Serena Williams booked her place in the Madrid Masters final with a straight-sets victory over Sara Errani this morning.
After a pair of early holds, Errani made the first breakthrough. The Italian opened up a 40-0 lead but couldn't take any of the three break points before eventually cracking Williams's serve on the second deuce.
Williams broke back in the sixth game but then immediately relinquished her service as Errani retook control of the opening set.
It was three consecutive breaks of serve, though, as Serena once again hit back and this time she held her serve before again breaking the Italian in the 12th game, clinching the set 7-5 at the fourth time of asking.
The second set began sluggishly for Williams but she managed to save three break points in the opening game on her way to holding serve.
She then broke in the fourth game to take a 3-1 lead before again snapping the Italian's serve, this time to love, four games later to wrap up the second set 6-2.
The American will face either Ana Ivanovic or Maria Sharapova in Sunday's final.
Pascal Lemesre
