Serena Williams to meet Li Na in Cincinnati semis

Washington, Aug 17: World number one Serena Williams defeated Simona Halep 6-0, 6-4 at the Cincinnati Masters quarter-final.

World No.1 Serena Williams will face defending champion and fifth seeded Li Na of China in the semifinal late Saturday, reports Xinhua.

Williams and Li have had eight meetings previously with the American, winning seven of them.

Williams was in ruthless form to open the match, steamrolling past her opponent to take the first set in just 16 minutes.

Halep offered token resistance in the second but there was never any doubt Williams would prevail as she went on to wrap up her 59th match win of the season in just over an hour.

IANS