Williams breezes into Rome Open semi-finals

ROME (AFP) –

Serena Williams returns a ball to Slovakia’s Dominika Cibulkova at the Rome Masters on Thursday. Top seed Williams booked her place in the semi-finals with a comfortable 6-2, 6-0 win over Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro.

Top seed Serena Williams booked her place in the semi-finals of the WTA Rome Open on Friday after a comfortable 6-2, 6-0 win over Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro.

Williams took just over 56 minutes on Central Court to brush aside the Spaniard, who offered little in reply to the American’s all-round more powerful game.

The world number one, who will claim her 51st WTA title if she triumphs this weekend, will meet the winner of the quarter-final between Jelena Jankovic and Simona Halep.

Williams’ path to victory has arguably been smoothed by the withdrawal Friday of world number two Maria Sharapova due to illness prior to the Russian’s quarter-final against Sara Errani.

Williams admitted the scheduling of the Rome tournament between the Madrid Open and the French Open could be problematic if players, as with Sharapova, suffered ailments that could hamper their bid for the victory in the year’s second Grand Slam.

“It’s definitely taking a chance and sometimes you might feel like preparing well for the Roland Garros, which is probably the most difficult Slam to win, and you want to give yourself the best chance and sometimes this is what you have to do,” said Williams.

Asked whether she felt she was in the prime of her career despite turning 30 years old, she added: “Maybe, I have been pretty consistent and healthy — knock on wood — so maybe yes.

“Never felt better, or healthier or younger.”

If successful in her semi-final, Williams will meet the winner of the second semi between Errani and Samantha Stosur or Viktoria Azarenka.

Williams earned her 49th career singles title, and third of the year, by beating former world number one Jankovic in the final of the Family Circle Cup last month.