Auckland (AFP)
American Serena Williams qualified for the final of the WTA tournament in Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday, yielding only two games (6-1 6-1) to her compatriot Amanda Anisimova, 20 years her youngest and swept in 43 minutes.
"I was really in a state of grace today. I knew that I was facing an excellent player and that I had to apply myself", reacted the former world N.1 (10th currently), 38 years old , intractable with Anisimova aged 18.
The young Russian-born American had revealed herself last season by winning her first WTA title in Bogota and reaching the semi-finals at Roland Garros.
But on Saturday a chasm separated her level from that of Serena Williams, who is more than on time in her preparation for the Australian Open (January 20 - February 2) where she will try, once again, to equal the record of 24 Grand Slam titles held by the Australian Margaret Court.
The former world No.1 left only rare opportunities for Anisimova (1 break point saved) and was very solid in service, with almost 77% of points won on her first balls.
The champion who became a mother in 2017 also found a fault in her opponent's second services, a sector in which Anisimova scored only 2 points out of 14 possible.
"I have worked very hard for the past two years. With my daughter, who is only two years old, I find that I am doing quite well," said Serena Williams who will face another American, Jessica Pegula (82nd, in the final on Sunday). ).
The native of Buffalo, in the state of New York, dismissed in the other semi-final a former world N.1, the Danish Caroline Wozniacki (3-6, 6-4, 6-0), in full tour farewell.
The 29-year-old Scandinavian, winner of the Australian Open in 2018 and currently ranked 39th, announced in early December that she wanted to end her career at the end of the first major tournament of the season in Melbourne.
© 2020 AFP