Serena Williams hammered past fellow American Amanda Anisimova to reach the final of Auckland International in just 43 minutes with a 6-1 6-1 match point.
Serena last won a singles title in 2017 when she clinched the Australian Open defeating her sister Venus.
Williams, 38, will face unseeded American Jessica Pegula who beat Williams’ doubles partner Caroline Wozniacki to reach the final.
Williams will play in two finals on Sunday competing for the singles crown and the doubles.
“I knew I was playing a really great player and an even better person and I knew I had to come out serious,” Williams said.
“My daughter’s only two – I tend to be really hard on myself but considering everything, I’m doing pretty good.”
In the Brisbane International, Karolina Pliskova beat Naomi Osaka. The defending champion came from behind to beat the fourth seeded 6-7 (10-12) 7-6 (7-3) 6-2.
She will face American Madison Keys on Sunday. Keys beat two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova 3-6 6-2 6-3.
Fans at @BrisbaneTennis can leave us postcards and omg this one was the sweetest. 😭 Thank you Ethan (PS: I made the final, hope you can watch me play tomorrow) 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/5PTWruiAk9
— Madison Keys (@Madison_Keys) January 11, 2020
World number one Ashleigh Barty will play in Sunday’s doubles final alongside Kiki Bertens.
Berty is donating all her Brisbane earnings to the bushfire relief fund. She already made a donation of A$32,129 (£16,955) her second-round singles prize money to the cause.
Barty and Bertens will face Hsieh Su-wei and Barbora Strycova in the final.
Leave a Reply