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11/22/2024 03:02:07 am

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WTA Finals: Serena Williams Rallies to Win Epic Three-Setter; Sets up Finals Against Simona Halep

World No. 1 Serena Williams rallied to win an epic three-setter against good friend Caroline Wozniacki and has setup a finals encounter against Simona Halep at the WTA Finals in Singapore

(Photo : wtafinals.com)

World No. 1 Serena Williams rallied to win an epic three-setter against good friend Caroline Wozniacki and has setup a finals encounter against Simona Halep at the WTA Finals in Singapore on Saturday.

The Danish star, who topped Group White with an unblemished 3-0 record, started out on fire in the first set as she broke the top seed twice in three attempts to easily take the set but the crowd rallied behind Williams and the defending champion responded as she connected 88 percent of her serves and capitalized on Wozniacki's second serves to break the Dane twice and level the match.

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The third set was a heart-pounding treat as both players exchanged a break point and put the match into a thrilling tie-break where Williams managed to edge out Wozniacki and came out victorious 2-6 6-3 7(8)-6(6) that lasted two hours and 13 mins.

"I just kept thinking, if I lose I get to go home and if I win I get to stay in front of this amazing crowd," Williams said. "When I lost the first set I heard so many people behind me and it's the only reason I was able to pull through."

The 18-time Grand Slam champion now faces a tough finals match against Simona Halep who shocked her during the round-robin stages as Williams was dealt with her worst lost, only winning two games 0-6 2-6.

The 23-year-old Romanian continued her amazing performance in the tournament as she broke Rogers Cup champion Agnieszka Radwanska two times in both sets to advance to her first event final 6-2 6-2 in a match that lasted just 67 minutes.

 "I'm very excited to be in the finals," Halep said.  "I didn't expect this result here and I've had to work very hard to play my best tennis here this week."

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