Serena Williams, a 13-time Grand Slam champion, stormed into the final of the WTA Bank of the West Classic tournament, dominating Wimbledon semi-finalist Sabine Lisicki 6-1, 6-2.
Williams took just 59 minutes to subdue the big-hitting German and reach her first final since she won the Wimbledon in 2010.
That victory was followed by an 11-month absence from the court as she coped with a series of health problems, including a cut foot and blood clots in her lungs.
“I feel like a kid again,” said Williams, whose ranking has dropped to 169. “When I was younger I had the goal of being in the top 100, then qualifying for a Grand Slam without a wildcard. I have those goals again.”
Williams reached the second round on her return at Eastbourne and reached the fourth round at Wimbledon.
In the final the American is set to face France’s Marion Bartoli who advanced on a walkover after eighth-seeded Slovakian Dominika Cibulkova withdrew with a strained abdominal muscle.
Published in The Express Tribune, August 1st, 2011.
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