Western & Southern Open, Cincinnati

Women’s Semifinals

[CR1] Serena Williams (USA) vs. [CR20] Elina Svitolina (UKR)

Another slow start for Williams; however, she managed to recover her focus within the first set to win the set 6-4. Of course, there was still some drama. After a dominant close to the first set, the expected continuation of momentum in the second set did not occur. Williams was broken and had to break twice to win the set and the match, 6-4, 6-3. The thought that keeps swirling around in my head every time I watch her play, “how many more times can she get out of these self-imposed holes?” It’s still quite fresh in my mind that she was unable to get out of the hole she found herself in against Bencic. However, Williams knows what she is trying to accomplish and most of the time she has the uncanny ability to overcome her slow start. She will need to be more alert in the final tomorrow.

[CR3] Simona Halep (ROU) vs. [CR25] Jelena Jankovic (SRB)

The last time Jankovic defeated Halep was the very first time they played, 2010. Things have changed a lot since then for both players. One player is peaking while the other has peaked. What Jankovic was able to do when she was at the top of her game, she can no longer do consistently.  She is a tad slower, and that robs her of her timing, which is vital in her plan to use the angles to torment her opponents. Halep is very quick around the court, so you have to use the angles against her; unfortunately, Jankovic was not executing her shots with much accuracy or pace. Halep on the other hand played with conviction and aggression. Jankovic just could not find her game and it was not one of her better performances. Halep won 6-1, 6-2. Halep will get to revisit her rivalry with Williams in the final. Who will prevail in this encounter?