Williams to take on Pliskova in WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai final

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Venus Williams and rising star Karolina Pliskova entered the final of WTA Elite Trophy Zhuhai on Saturday.

   In the semifinals, on-fire Williams overpowered Italian Roberta Vinci in just 65 minutes while Pliskova of the Czech Republic also enjoy an easy time with a 6-3, 6-1 victory against Elina Svitolina of Ukraine.

   It was one-sided as Williams unleashed big serves and groundstrokes into the corners time and time again to completely overpower Vinci, breaking serve six times en route to the 6-2, 6-2 victory.

   "Wow, first final here. I'm very honored to be in the first final in Zhuhai," Williams said after the match. "Today wasn't an easy match. Every game was really well-contested and she never gave me easy points. She's had a great year. I felt like I really earned the win today."

   Williams not only improved to 5-0 lifetime against Vinci, but this was also her 40th match win of the year -- a milestone she hasn't hit since all the way back in 2008.

   Nine of those wins have come in China -- six to win the Wuhan title, three so far in Zhuhai.

   "China's been good to me this year!" Williams said. "I played well in Wuhan, and now another final here in Zhuhai, and I hope I can win one more match. It won't be easy. I'm looking forward to it."

   Pliskova's win over Svitolina was also a one-way traffic, with the Czech breaking four times before closing out the match in just one hour.  Endi