Carla Suarez Navarro's tremendous run at the Miami Open continued in the semi-finals, as she added the German Andrea Petkovic to the list of higher ranked players that she has knocked out of the tournament this week. The number 9 seed had no answers against the Spaniard's determined play, as she succumbed in straight sets. Suarez Navarro will face the number one seed, Serena Williams in the final itself on Saturday, after Serena fought her way through against the champion from Indian Wells, Simona Halep in three sets.
Suarez Navarro has been the main talking point in the women's singles in Miami, as she continues her efforts to climb into the top ten and perhaps one day even reach the summit in the women's game.
She becomes the first Spanish lady since 1993 to reach the last match in Miami, emulating her compatriot the great Arantxa Sanchez-Vicario in the process. With a succession of victories already against Venus Williams, Agnieszka Radwanska and now Petkovic at the tournament, there seems no limit to her ambition in the sport. Her latest triumph 6-3 6-3 against Petkovic confirmed her rising status in the world of Tennis and also her place in the top ten when the next list is released. Her serving was pivotal to her success, with no break points offered to her opponent during their 87 minutes' contest. It will be the Spaniard's first final on the top tour and just making it that far would seem to be a major stepping stone on the way to achieving even greater things in the sport in future.
Serena had yet another mixed match against the number three seeded Halep, spraying plenty of unforced errors out of court but also utilising her immense power to good effect in equal measure. The 33-year-old will just be relieved to make another final in Miami as she chases her 8th title at the American tour event. Williams eventually overcame Halep 6-2 4-6 7-5, but not before her game seemed to lose its direction in that second set, after seemingly being well in control in set one.
That lack of consistency will be frustrating her and may give Suarez Navarro a glimmer of hope come the final, although with a 4-0 record against the Spaniard and no sets yet lost to her, the odds are heavily in the American's favour.
