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Serena conquers Safina to set up final with Jankovic

06/09/2008

Serena Williams has qualified for the US Open women's final for the third time in her career after defeating Dinara Safina in straight sets.

Safina struggled with the swirling wind at Flushing Meadows and was easily beaten 6-3 6-2. Williams will now take on Serbia's Jelena Jankovic in the final.

Williams managed to get the better of her Russian opponent by handling the conditions better and being able to convert her opportunities more successfully.

In the fist set Safina created five break point chances but could only convert one of them while Williams created six break points and clinched two of them to take the set.

The Russian helped Williams' cause by making 27 unforced errors – most of which were hitting the ball out of bounds due to the wind.

In the second set both players dropped serve in their opening games before Williams managed to get a stranglehold on the match.

She broke Safina two more times and held serve twice herself to gain a 5-1 advantage. Safina was able to hold serve to stay in the match but Williams won the next game to take the set 6-2 and set up the final against Jankovic.

Williams and Jankovic have each won three of their previous six meetings during their careers and the American is looking forward to the final.

She said: "I think she's playing really well. She has nothing to lose, and neither do I. It should be a good match."

Williams has won the US Open on two previous occasions but has not made it to the final since her last triumph in 2002.