Serena Williams to Face Samantha Stosur in Final of Rogers Cup Toronto

Serena Williams pumps her fist in celebration after winning a point in her semifinal match Saturday (John Lucero)

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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Serena Williams pumps her fist in celebration after winning a point in her semifinal match Saturday (John Lucero)Williams Crushes Victoria Azarenka in Straight Sets
 
Although Serena Williams is playing in just her fourth tournament of the year, she has quickly found her form and is looking like her old self – the player who was once ranked best in the world. On Saturday evening, the American put in her best and most dominant performance so far at the Rogers Cup in Toronto.
 
Williams had little trouble defeating fourth seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus in straight sets 6-3, 6-3. Williams will now face 10th seed Samantha Stosur in Sunday’s final after the Australian won the earlier semifinal 6-2, 5-7, 6-2 against 13th seed Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland.
 
After an 11-month layoff due to injury and health problems, Williams dropped in the WTA rankings and currently sits at 80, but that is simply an illusion. In Saturday’s semifinal she demonstrated why she is one of the best female tennis players in the world and that she will clearly rocket up the rankings if she continues to play this well the rest of the year.
 
The unseeded Williams was supposedly facing her toughest challenge of the tournament in the fourth ranked Azarenka. The Belarusian had not lost a set all tournament and only dropped six games in total heading into the semifinal.
 
Williams looks calm and under control while running down a ball and getting ready to hit a backhand (John Lucero)The first set went back and forth for the first five games with each holding serve and Williams was leading 3-2. In the next game Williams was the first to break service going up 4-2 before both took turns breaking each other again in the following two games. Up 5-3, Williams served out the set and ended it with a blistering ace, one of six in the match, to take it 6-3.
 
The second set started out much like the first as each held service for the first six games and were all tied at 3-3. Azarenka continued to struggle with her serve and handed Williams the next game as she double faulted on the final point. Williams, on the other hand, had no issues with her serve in the semifinal. In Friday’s quarterfinal, she had seven double faults compared to just one on Saturday. Williams ended the following game with another ace, her 36th of the tournament, going ahead 5-3. Azarenka served to stay in the match but simply could not handle her opponent’s returns. She could only watch as Williams nailed a terrific baseline winner in the back corner to win the match.
 
“I just kind of knew I was playing a really, really good player today and I basically had to step up my game or go to Cincinnati,” said Williams after the match.
 
“I feel it’s (her game) better today than it has been my past couple of rounds, but I feel it’s coming along. I feel like, you know, I still can do a little better, but overall, I’m almost maybe where I was almost, but I want to exceed that level.”
Fourth seed Victoria Azarenka desperately attempts to return a ball hit by Williams (John Lucero)Although Azarenka was disappointed with her play in the semifinal she felt she had a good tournament overall.
 
“Well, I wasn’t playing my best tennis today,” said Azarenka after the match. I was doing a little bit too many unforced errors and didn’t take my chances. It’s not bad. I mean, semifinals is a pretty good tournament. So obviously not happy with today’s result, but I need to improve and keep working hard.”
 
Azarenka was also very impressed with how well Williams played in the match
 
“She played really well and served really well,” added Azarenka. “That was one of the biggest differences, I think…I think she’s the best I have seen her play so far. I have seen her play, so she’s getting there.”
 
Stosur Outlasts Radwanska
 
Australian Samantha Stosur is poised to follow through on a volley in her semifinal win (JP Dhanoa)Stosur looked to be on her way to another easy victory on Saturday after she took the first set 6-2, however Radwanska fought back and put up a stiffer challenge in the second set. Both players fought hard for each point as both went back and forth taking turns winning games. Radwanska held serve to go up 6-5 and then took advantage of Stosur unravelling on her next service. Stosur suddenly struggled with her serve and lost the next game in straight points ending with a double fault, clinching the set for Radwanksa 7-5.
 
Stosur rebounded in the third set and simply wore down her opponent with her powerful serves and returns. Radwanska was playing through a shoulder injury and once again played with a large bandage taped over her shoulder. The injury clearly took its toll as the match wore on. Both exchanged the first four games before Stosur broke Radwanska to go up 3-2. The Australian then held serve and broke the Pole again for the second time to take control of the set at 5-2. At this point Radwanska looked tired and was unable to successfully return many of her shots. Stosur served out the set and closed the match with an ace and won five consecutive games to end the set 6-2.
 
“I think I was I obviously was playing better in the second set, and I was able to break her I think twice,” said Radwanska. “But then I think that she starts serve much, much better. I think serve was very important thing in this match. “With my shoulder I couldn’t really hold my serve. That’s why I think there was a little bit of trouble especially in the beginning of the third set already.”
 
 Struggling with a shoulder injury, Agnieszka Radwanska's shoulder was taped for the match (JP Dhanoa)“I was fighting till the end, and of course this been a very busy three weeks. So I’m just very happy that I could be here in the semifinal. So anyway it’s good tournament for me.
 
Stosur was unsure of her opponent in the final after her victory but spoke about the possibility of playing Williams on Sunday.
 
“I have had some success against Serena, but we all know what she can do and what she’s capable of,” said Stosur.
 
“She’s obviously one of the best players ever in the women’s sport. And for her to have that layoff, and then obviously it’s only her fourth tournament back, she’s already won an event and done well, it’s full credit to her. I think she’s one of those players, she’s not going to come back unless she’s 100%, and I think she’s showing even with that time off she is still one of the best in the world.”
 
Williams was humble in the assessment of her chances against Stosur in the final.
 
“Well, the last time we played, she got the best of me,” said Williams. “It was an intense match, and she played really well. So being ranked 10 in the world, I think that she definitely has an opportunity to take it all. She’s been playing well. I think this court really kind of suits her game.”
 
“We’ll see. I have nothing to lose, and I’m happy to have gotten this far. Hopefully if I take another title, that would be great. If not there’s next week.”
 
Meanwhile in doubles semifinal action, Americans Liezel Huber and Lisa Raymond continued its good run in the tournament and advanced to the final with a 3-6, 6-1, 10-6 victory over Argentinean Gisela Dulko and her Italian partner Flavia Pennetta.
 
In the other semifinal, shortly after her singles loss to Williams, Azarenka rebounded with her Russian partner Maria Kirilenko to defeat the Spanish pair of Nuria Llagostera
Vives and Arantxa Parra Santonja 6-4, 6-3. Azarenka and Kirilenko will play Huber and Raymond in the final immediately after the conclusion of the singles final on Sunday at Rexall Centre.

Stosur and Radwanska shake hands after the match (JP Dhanoa)
 

Click  HERE  to see more of JP Dhanoa’s pictures of Rogers Cup – 2011 – WTA – Day 6
 
Click  HERE  to see more of John Lucero’s pictures of Rogers Cup – 2011 – WTA – Day 6 
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