By Saumojyoti Singha Choudhury, IANS
Bangalore : Third seed Serena Williams had the last laugh in a thrilling Williams sisters’ clash, edging past Venus in three sets to set up a final encounter against fourth seed Patty Schnyder of Switzerland in the $600,000 Canara Bank Bangalore Open here Saturday.
In a match that swung like a pendulum, Serena, world ranked 10, had to toil hard on the centre court for about 130 minutes to prevail over Venus 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (4), while Schnyder took just 75 minutes to halt Chinese giant-killer Zi Yan’s run 6-3, 6-4 here at the Karnataka State Lawn Tennis Association.
To start with, Serena was better among the Williams sisters as she was more compact with her game compared to Venus. But as time went by Venus considerably improved her game.
Serena, the younger of the two sisters, snatched Venus’ serve in the fifth game of the first set and then held her own to go up 4-2. She broke her elder sister second time in the ninth game with a perfect forehand down the line return, for which the world No. 8 had no answer, to run away with the opening set 6-3.
Trailing by a set, Venus came out in the second with more purpose as she was in no mood to bow down before her younger sister without a fight and came back strongly to pocket it 6-3 and level the tie set apiece.
However, it was Serena who initiated the proceedings in the second set breaking Venus in the second game, only to lose her own serve in the next, courtesy a perfect forehand cross court winner from Venus.
The reigning Wimbledon champion’s purposeful attitude was evident from the fact that she broke Serena’s serve two more times in the set – fifth and ninth game – to level the tie.
In the decider, both the sisters did not give each other an inch. Though Serena was the first to break in the seventh game, Venus drew parity in the 10th to take the set into the tie-breaker where Serena prevailed over Venus 7-4.
“It was probably one of my toughest matches against Venus but at the end of the day we both are not playing our best tennis,” said Serena.
Asked about her feeling after beating her sister, she said: “A win is a win. Each match you play to win whether it’s against your sister or anyone else.”
Meanwhile, Venus said she gave her best against Serena but could not finish off.
“I played really well today but it’s hard to win each and everyday. Serena always plays tough tennis. I gave my best today but was unfortunate.
“I was lot more comfortable with the conditions. I felt the best today as per the conditions are concerned,” Venus said after the match.
Earlier, in the first semi-final, Schnyder scored an emphatic 6-3, 6-4 win to tame Yan, who had knocked off top seed Jelana Jankovic and eighth seed Maria Kirilenko in the earlier rounds.
Unlike her previous two outings, Schnyder showed intent right from the start and displayed her prowess from the back of the court with immaculate cross-court and down the line shots time and again.
Schnyder, ranked 12, broke Yan in the first game and then held her serve to go up 2-0.
The Swiss stepped up the tempo and, helped by unforced errors from
Yan, got one more break in the ninth game to pocket the first set.
Schnyder seized the initiative early in the second set as she snapped Yan’s serve in the fourth game with a perfect cross-court volley to go up 3-1. The 54th ranked Chinese fought back and broke Schnyder immediately.
Schnyder broke Yan again in the eighth game. Down 3-5, Yan was not in a mood to give up as she broke back Schnyder in the next game. But Yan failed to keep her service intact and Schnyder sailed through to the final.
“Today I was more focused than earlier matches. My serve worked in my favour, even the bounce of the court helped me a lot.
“My husband also gave me positive energy in the middle of the match,” Schnyder said after her victory.
“I wasn’t lucky enough. She (Schnyder) gave me a lot of trouble with her wide serves and from the back of the court,” Yan said.
Earlier, in a doubles semi-final, third seed Chinese pair of Shuai Peng and Tiantian Sun beat compatriots Ji Chunmei and and Sengnan Sun 6-3, 6-2 in less than an hour.
They will now take on top seed Yung-Jan Chan and Chia-Jung Chuang of Chinese Taipei, who Friday defeated Ekaterina Dzehalevich of Belarus and Monica Niculescu in the first semi-final.
Results:
Singles:
Patty Schnyder (SUI) def Zi Yan (CHN) 6-3, 6-4
Serena Williams (USA) def Venus Williams (USA) 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4)
Doubles:
Suani Peng (CHN)/ Tiantian Sun (CHN) def Ji Chunmei (CHN)/ Sengnan Sun (CHN) 6-3, 6-2