Serena dominates Osaka to reach Toronto semis

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TORONTO, Canada, Aug 10, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – Serena Williams powered past
Naomi Osaka 6-3, 6-4 on Friday to reach the semi-finals of the WTA tournament
in Toronto.

In a rematch of last year’s controversial US Open final won by Osaka,
eighth-seeded Williams was firing on all cylinders against the second-seeded
Japanese star.

The 23-time Grand Slam champion fired 12 aces and didn’t face a break.
Williams next faces either fourth-seeded Simona Halep — who beat her in the
Wimbledon final in July — or Czech qualifier Marie Bouzkova.

Although Osaka won’t depart Toronto with a trophy, her run to the quarters
— along with a second-round departure for top-ranked Ashleigh Barty and a
quarter-final exit for world number three Karolina Pliskova — will see the
Japanese star regain the world number one ranking next week.