Sports

Venus to meet Muguruza in Wuhan Open final

35-year-old saw off Vinci to avenge sister’s US Open heartbreak.

Afp October 02, 2015

Seven-time Grand Slam-winner Venus was a match point down to the Italian at one stage, but eventually saw her off in a final set tie break. PHOTO: AFP

WUHAN: Former world number one Venus Williams salvaged a small bit of family pride when she fought back from a set down to see off Italy’s Roberto Vinci 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 (7/4) and reach the final of the Wuhan Open on Friday.

The 35-year-old American, winner of seven Grand Slam singles titles, will face Wimbledon finalist Garbine Muguruza after the Spaniard knocked out Germany’s Angelique Kerber 6-4, 7-6 (7/5).

Vinci, who stunned Venus’s younger sister Serena in the semi-finals of the US Open last month, had fought back from 3-0 down to take a topsy-turvy first set featuring five breaks of serve.

But she failed to hit the heights thereafter as Venus, who won her 700th match on tour earlier this week, took command in the second set, racing ahead 5-1 before forcing the decider.

“If I could, I’d give my win to Serena at the US Open,” said Venus. “Unfortunately, it doesn’t work like that.”

Muguruza suffered an ankle injury but kept up her bid to qualify for the eight-woman end-of-year WTA Tour finals in Singapore by coming through a hard-fought clash against sixth seed Kerber.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 3^rd, 2015.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.