DOHA, QATAR (AP) - A day after regaining the No. 1 ranking, Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova 6-3, 6-2 Saturday to reach the Qatar Open final. Williams has beaten Sharapova 10 straight times.
Williams will play for the title against Victoria Azarenka, whom she will replace at the top of the new rankings Monday. Azarenka beat Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3, 6-3 in the other semifinal.
Williams had been inconsistent for much of the week but was dominant Saturday. She broke Sharapova to go up 4-2 and had a love service game on the way to winning the first set.
Sharapova came out stronger in the second set and had a chance to pull in front 2-0. But Williams saved the break point and broke the third-ranked Russian to lead 2-1. She broke again for 5-2.
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