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Serena survives three sets to reach fourth final at Roland Garros

Xinhua, June 5, 2015 Adjust font size:

Two-time champion Serena Williams came back from one set down here on Thursday to beat Swiss Timea Bacsinszky for her 24th Grand Slam final and fourth at Roland Garros.

The top-ranked American will play Czech Lucie Safarova, who made her first major final after upsetting seventh seed Ana Ivanovic in straight sets earlier on Thursday.

Williams struggled for most of the match with a cold, having had towels around her neck between games, but still managed to a 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 victory.

Her 23rd seeded opponent, who was playing in her first major semifinal, broke in the second set to lead 3-2 before Williams broke back twice and served it out 6-3.

Having managed 10 games in a row in the last two sets, Williams had 5-0 up in the third and wrapped it up 6-0 while pushing so hard on her already under pressure Bacsinszky.

Williams, who declined to show up at a routine post-match press conference citing an excuse of illness, is seeking her 20th Grand Slam title and the third at Roland Garros. Endi