Cincy Semis: Serena vs Li Na

[Correspondent Kiu]

VERSUS

H2H is 7-1 in favor of Serena.
Li Na hasn't even won a set off Serena since 2009 although they had some tie breakers.

Who wins?

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Serena, but it won't be easy. Serena is starting to show signs of life again just in time for the US Open much better serving and returning.

 

[tented]

Serena in three.

 

[ozza]

Na at her very best can trouble Serena. I don't think she's in that form though (it isn't easy to judge with only 1 of her matches being televised this week however), so Serena in 2.

 

[MargaretMcAleer]

Serena in 2 sets

 

[Calvy]

If Serena were to lose, this is where I think it would happen, depending if she cares.

 

[Fiero425]

If Serena were to lose, this is where I think it would happen, depending if she cares.

OMG, does she? I don't watch much, but everytime I turned over to see Serena, she was all PO'd! It didn't matter if she was up 6-0, 4-1, she just wasn't happy being out there! Was it some inconvenience I was missing?

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

I don't think she is happy with where her game is at at the moment.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

If Serena were to lose, this is where I think it would happen, depending if she cares.

Are you preparing yourself for a loss?

I took Serena in straight sets.

 

[Calvy]

I just think Cincinnati is a tourney she really doesn't like, for whatever reason. And, although she admonishes herself on court if she's not playing up to her satisfaction, at this tourney, I get the vibe she's not really feeling this event. Last year in her losses to Kerber, she was hard on herself during the match, but, it was an obvious tank job.

That being said, I'm not "preparing" myself for a loss, come on, the woman has won 8 tournaments this year, you expect to win every match. Being that this is semi-finals, and she is in awesome shape, expect her to win.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Serena is trying to give this first set away, double faulting for a 4-5 first set score.
Li Na will serve for the set, she has momentum!

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Serena just always knows how to make her life more difficult in matches these days.

 

[Correspondent Kiu]

Now it's Li's turn, double faulting on set point and then error'ng the game away, now all even at 5-5.

As exciting as this match is, I have to leave and go to New Haven, my assignment is calling.

See you all later.

 

[Calvy]

If Serena were to lose, this is where I think it would happen, depending if she cares.

Lazy tennis from Serena, lucky to get that set. Should have never been in that close.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

She was quite lucky to get that first set. I hope she puts her foot down in the second.

 

[Sundaymorningguy]

Why for the love of god does it seem when she is poised to pull ahead in a match and gets a break or chance to consolidate a break does Serena seem to get broken?

Wow Li couldn't have asked for a better chance to beat Serena than this match. Serena was practically begging her to take this match.

 

[Calvy]

Serena was teasing her, wave the carrot in her face and then snatch it away.

 

[GameSetAndMath]

Independent of what happens tomorrow, Serena has clinched the US Open Series
Bonus Challenge Title. SO, if she wins USO, she will get one million dollars to go along
with the winner's check of $2.6 million for a total of $3.6 million.

So far, only Serena and Federer have managed to win that bonus 1 million
by winning both the series and the USO.

 

[kskate2]

That's not accurate GSM. Serena has never won the series and open in same year. She won the series in 2011 with titles in Stanford and Toronto, but lost the USO final to Stosur. The USO runner-up gets 1/2 mil if they win the series. Kim is the only woman to win the series and the open in the same year to get the bonus. That was 2005.

 

[RJD11]

That's not accurate GSM. Serena has never won the series and open in same year. She won the series in 2011 with titles in Stanford and Toronto, but lost the USO final to Stosur. The USO runner-up gets 1/2 mil if they win the series. Kim is the only woman to win the series and the open in the same year to get the bonus. That was 2005.

I think Serena did get the 3rd prize ( $250,000 ) one year.