World number one Serena Williams will meet Simona Halep in the finals of the WTA finals on Sunday in Singapore.
It will be a rematch for the two players, as Halep had handed Serena her greatest defeat in 16 years at the group stage. Halep, ranked world number four beat Serena 6-0, 6-2.
Halep in the second semi-final of the tournament, defeated Agnieszka Radwanska 6-2,6-2. Serena had a more difficult work to shake off, her friend Caroline Wozniacki in the first semi-final, taking the third set by a close tie break.
The diminutive world number four, backed by a phalanx of noisy Romanian fans, belted 26 winners against just four conceded as she broke Radwanska five times to win in 68 minutes.
Williams, 33, said she would start out with “low goals” against Halep, after winning just two games in their group match — her worst performance since she was 16.
“I’m excited. My goal is to win three games. That’ll be my first goal. I’m going to go from there,” joked Williams. “Hopefully I can hold serve. That would be good. Most of all, I hope to break once.”
While Halep cruised, Williams’ fourth win over Wozniacki this year, including the US Open final, was tough and it was the third time this season that she has been pushed to three sets by the resurgent Dane.