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Serena sets up clash with Henin

MIAMI: Serena Williams beat the best the Israeli army corporal Shahar Peer had to offer. Peer kept things close for an hour before Serena pulled away, winning 7-6(4), 6-1, to secure a berth in the final of the Sony Ericsson Open here on Thursday.

``I started out really slow,'' Serena said. ``I think I was a little nervous. And then I just finished well.''

One test remains for the rejuvenated Serena: a revival on Saturday of her long-dormant rivalry with Justine Henin. The Belgian reached the Key Biscayne final for the first time by beating Anna Chakvetadze 6-2, 6-3.

``Justine has been playing some of the best tennis on the Tour,'' Serena said. ``She's doing awesome. This will be a real test of my game.''

Henin versus Serena was once a fierce rivalry, but they haven't met since the 2003 Wimbledon semifinals.

Serena has won five of their eight meetings, including two of three in Grand Slam events.

``We had a couple of good fights in the past,'' Henin said. ``When she's healthy and really focused, she's a great champion.

"She has nothing to prove to anyone. She did it in the past. It's great the level she's back to.''

Poor start

Serena struggled early against the 14th-seeded Peer, who came within two points of an upset when they met at the Australian Open in January. In the first set, Serena returned poorly, struggled with her backhand and failed to break Peer's serve. She said she was bothered by a sore left knee.

``It's a little tired,'' she said. ``I forgot to take my anti-inflammatory medicine.''

However, big serves kept Serena in the hunt. She won 12 consecutive service points to stay even, took a 4-1 lead in the tie-breaker and closed out the set with a service winner and a ``C'mon!'' shout.

``I was very close,'' said Peer, who was playing in her first Tier I semifinal. ``The first set could have gone either way. Unfortunately, she ran away with the second.'' Serena earned her first break early in the second set, took a 3-0 lead and punctuated the victory with her seventh ace. Playing in her first tournament since winning the Australian Open crown, she's seeking her fourth Key Biscayne title.

With a 14-1 record this year, Serena will climb to at least 12th in next week's rankings. She was ranked as low as 140th in 2006, when she played in only four tournaments.

The top-ranked Henin is a five-time Grand Slam champion, but until this year she had never advanced beyond the quarterfinals at Key Biscayne. She says she dislikes the island's windy weather and tends to play poorly in March because it's the anniversary of her mother's death.

``It is a challenge for me,'' Henin said.

``I just live for now. I'm not in the past anymore. I just try to enjoy every moment, not try to project myself too far into the future and forget a little bit of what happened in the past.''

The results:

Men (quarterfinals): Ivan Ljubicic bt Juan Ignacio Chela 6-3, 7-5; Guillermo Canas bt Tommy Robredo 7-6(5), 6-1.

Doubles (semifinals): Leander Paes & Martin Damm bt Arnaud Clement & Michael Llodra 6-4, 3-6, 12-10 (tie-break); Bob & Mike Bryan bt Fabrice Santoro & Nenad Zimonjic 7-5, 6-2.

Women (semifinals): Justine Henin bt Anna Chakvetadze 6-2, 6-3; Serena Williams bt Shahar Peer 7-6(4), 6-1. — AP

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