On paper this match looks like Williams should advance, but Wozniacki has found form of late, and so it proved.

The match starts with 3 easy holds, each player striking the ball well, and a high percentage of first serves from Wozniacki sees another hold for 2-2.  The first break points of the match goes to Wozniacki, and she takes the first to lead 3-2, and a solid hold  makes it 4-2. Williams winds up her serve, notching 191km, to change ends at 4-3. A solid hold from Wozniacki, followed by a hold to 30 from Williams, leaves Wozniacki serving for the first set. The first serve wavers, but enough from the groundstrokes for Wozniacki to deservedly take the set 6-4.

A poor start in the second from Williams sees a break for Wozniacki straight off, which she follows with a hold for a promising 2-0 lead. But Williams finds her range with the serve to hold easily for 2-1. Game 4 looks pivotal as Wozniacki is forced to save break point, before coming through. Two comfortable holds for each player see the changeover with 4-3 lead for Wozniacki with just the one break. But game 8 brings the inevitable, with Williams breaking to love, followed by a solid hold for 5-4. Wozniacki does well to level at 5-5, but another hold from Williams has the pressure back on the Wozniacki serve. This time Williams cranks the pressure too much, and ties the match at a set apiece.

Wozniacki brings on her coach at the break, and almost works with break points, but Williams holds. Wozniacki can’t follow suit though as Williams moves in to a 2-0 lead. But not to be out done, Wozniacki breaks back to love. A hold and another break see Williams move to a 4-2 lead.

But this match is not done yet, as a loose service game from Williams gets the break back. A solid, and gutsy, game from Wozniacki sees the score tied at 4-4 as the crowd really gets in to the match. In the next game Williams shows her class as she wins a 21-stroke rally, followed by 2 aces, to force Wozniacki to serve to stay in the match, which Wozniacki does to move the score to 5-5. Another solid hold from Williams has Wozniacki serving for a second time to stay in the match. This time Wozniacki can’t quite do it, and Williams heads to the semis, possibly to face her sister Venus.

Williams gives an excellent interview in French, to the delight of the Montreal crowd.

Roddy Christie/ Front Page News