Serena Williams of the U.S. reacts after winning her women’s singles semifinal match against Klara Zakopalova of the Czech Republic at the Swedish Open tennis tournament in Bastad, Sweden, Saturday, July 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Scanpix Sweden, Bjorn Larsson Rosvall)
BASTAD, Sweden — Serena Williams defeated Klara Zakopalova 6-0, 6-4 in the semifinals of the Swedish Open on Saturday to get her 50th win of the season faster than any other year in her career.
After losing the first eight games, the third-seeded Zakopalova managed to break Williams’ serve twice in the second set to level score at 4-all, but the top-ranked Williams broke back to take the set and the match.
“I was hardly making mistakes in the first set. I have to figure out a way to continue that tennis for more than one set, and I’m definitely going to go back and watch the film,” Williams said.
According to the WTA, the most wins Williams previously had going into the summer hardcourt season was 38 in 2003.
In the day’s other semifinal, Sweden’s Johanna Larsson came from behind to overpower Italy’s Flavia Pennetta 2-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Williams will meet the home favorite Larsson in Sunday’s final. Williams will be going for her seventh title of the year and 53rd of her career, while Larsson will be chasing her first-ever title.