Skip navigation

Serena Williams beats Errani to reach Madrid final

MADRID (AP) - Top-ranked Serena Williams will have a chance to win her 50th career title after beating Sara Errani of Italy 7-5, 6-2 Saturday to reach the final of the Madrid Open.

After a skittish start, Williams dominated Errani and broke her final service game in both sets.

The defending champion improved to 5-0 against the seventh-ranked Errani and to 30-2 overall this year.

Williams will play the winner of the other semifinal between second-seeded Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic. If Sharapova makes the final, the No. 1 ranking will also be at stake.

Later Saturday, Rafael Nadal played fellow Spaniard Pablo Andujar and Tomas Berdych faced Stanislas Wawrinka in the semifinals of the men's event.

© 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

advertisement
Slideshow
Image: TENNIS-AUS-OPEN
  Scenes from Down Under
Check out the best images from the 2013 Australian Open.

NBCSports.com

Slideshow
Image: The Championships - Wimbledon 2012: Day Thirteen
  The best of Wimbledon
The best images from the Grand Slam tournament at the All-England Club.

NBC Sports

Video
  French Open 2012: Top 10 Shots
June 10, 2012: John McEnroe, Ted Robinson, and Mary Carillo look back at the Top Ten best moments from the 2012 French Open.