Video: Williams to play Azarenka in Cincinnati final

Serena Williams earns place in the Western & Southern Cincinnati Open final with a 7-5, 7-5 win over defending champion Li Na at the Lindner Family Tennis Center, USA on Saturday.
Victoria Azarenka claims place in the final of the Western & Southern Cincinnati Open with victory over 14th-seed Jelena Jankovic in the USA on Saturday.

Top-ranked Serena Williams will make her first career appearance in the Western & Southern Cincinnati Open final after ousting defending champion Li Na, 7-5, 7-5, in the first women’s semifinal.

Williams, seeking her ninth title of the year, advanced when Li double-faulted on match point.

Williams improved to 60 wins to just 3 loses this season.

Li succumbed to eight double faults and had 12 forehand unforced errors, while Williams won seven of nine break points en route to the win.

In the final she will play second-seed Victoria Azarenka who beat 14th-seeded Jelena Jankovic, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 in a semifinal that featured 23 service breaks in 27 games.

Just as Williams and Li both struggled with their serves, their problems were minor compared to Azarenka and Jankovic, who managed to hold serve a grand total of just four times over three sets.

The miserable serving display emphasised by 20 double-faults, 11 by Azarenka and 9 from Jankovic.