Sara Errani faces Serena Williams for a place in the title match – US Open 2012
Italian tennis ace, Sara Errani, continues to impress the tennis lovers with her sublime run of form this season and has reached her second successive Grand Slam semi-final on Wednesday. The world number 10 overpowered her doubles partner and fellow compatriot, Roberta Vinci, in straight sets, 6-2, 6-4, in the quarter-final brawl.
The 10th seeded Italian has to face a huge challenge in the semi-final draw of the tournament, as she will encounter the devastating American powerhouse, Serena Williams, for a berth in the title match. Errani has been in superb form throughout the running season but it will take some serious dedication and courage from her to topple the hot favourite world number four in the upcoming matchup.
Williams has been the real dominating force on the tennis courts since her comeback to the WTA professional circuit and is considered to be invincible at the moment. Riding a 51-4 winning record this year, the 30-year-old veteran has already bagged five WTA championship titles and is the strongest contender for the coveted US Open trophy. She brushed aside the former world number one, Ana Ivanovic, 6-1,6-3, in the quarters to book a clash with Errani.
25-year-old Errani has faced Williams on three occurrences in the past, suffering crushing defeats on all the occasions to trail 0-3 in the head-to-head series. It is deemed extremely difficult for the Italian to hunt down the in-form American in the semis but Errani’s performances this season have also been quite stunning. She has registered a number of upsets to break into the elite Top-10 WTA rankings and will desire to continue her trend at the Flushing meadows park as well.
Albeit Williams hasn’t dropped a single set en route to the semi-final, the fourth seeded American still believes she is not playing up to her own set standards. She aims to take her game to an unassailable level and absolutely dominate her opponents in the matches to come, like she had been doing in her prime.
"I feel like I'm going to get more focused and serious and start playing Serena tennis in the next couple of rounds, if I get to play two rounds, that's my goal," Williams said. "I don't think I came into this tournament playing my best, but I've played better in the last two matches. I hope I have two left. I'll give 200%."
Errani has a bleak chance to register an upset against Williams but the American is unanimously rated as the hot favourite for winning straight sets once again.
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