New York: World number one Serena Williams will try to capture her 17th Grand Slam title and become the oldest women's champion in US Open history in a finals rematch Sunday with second seed Victoria Azarenka. Williams, who defeated Azarenka in last year's trophy decider, seeks her fifth US Open crown in her seventh final, her 21st career Grand Slam final, and would be the first top-seeded champion since Justine Henin in 2007.
World number one Williams thrashed a rattled Li Na 6-0 6-3, overcoming some staunch resistance at the end, while Azarenka returned to the Flushing Meadows final with a 6-4 6-2 win over unseeded Italian Flavia Pennetta. "Just to be able to defend a title for once would be really awesome," said French Open winner Williams, who will get her chance on Sunday after failing to go back-to-back following her 1999, 2002 and 2008 titles in New York.
Although overpowered in the opening set, Li battled valiantly in the second, saving six match points to hold serve before the top seed finally closed the deal on a seventh with an unreturned serve. "It was a good match. It was tough at the end," Williams said. "I got a little nervous but I was able to close it out." Former French Open champion Li, China's first semi-finalist at the US Open, admitted that she experienced a bout of nerves when she hit the Arthur Ashe Stadium court.
Williams, who has lost only 16 games over six matches, could win the title 18 days before her 32nd birthday, making her 293 days older than Australian Margaret Court was when she won the 1973 title to set the current age mark. And after titles in 1999, 2002, 2008 and last year, Williams could finally claim back-to-back crowns.
"I can't think about it," Williams said. "It's so close but still so far. I have to play a great player and play great tennis. "To be able to defend a title for once would be really awesome," she said.
Not since Williams in 2008 has a US Open champion lifted the trophy without losing a set, but Williams could make it happen Sunday by winning her ninth crown of the year, what would be her career-record title haul for one season.
