Posted on 4/1/2008 8:29:52 PM

Tennis Betting WTA Sony Ericsson Open Williams Sisters in the Semifinal

By Nila Amerova

Miami, Florida – Serena Williams continued the defence of her Miami title with an imperious victory today over World No.1 Justine Henin. As the umpire called “game, set, match” the final score line read 6-2, 6-0 – a veritable crushing of the diminutive Belgian by the tennis titan Serena Williams. Williams won the final 10 games in a superb display of flawless tennis all the while Henin unravelled. As a result, their matchup fell flat of the promise their billing held – for it has been an exciting rivalry the two shared over the years. In terms of speculating on Serena through the next rounds, her stunning on-court display that had her passing Henin on both wings, lobbing to stay in rallies, chasing drop shots and even throwing in some serve-and-volley tennis – showed a side of Williams – a technical side – that is not always prevalent in her power game. Williams proved she is more than just a power-player.

So as the tournament prepares for the second quarterfinal of the day in the top half of the draw: the matchup of Venus Williams versus Svetlana Kuznetsova is expected with a lot of anticipation. The question on everyone’s mind is whether we shall see a re-run of the good old days (well for some the good old days), when sister was pitted against sister, trading ground strokes and shrieks for the match win – for this to happen, Venus Williams must win her quarterfinal encounter with Svetlana Kuznetsova.

Venus Williams, the tournaments No.6 seed was slightly favoured with the draw in Miami, having faced very little opposition from an unseeded Marta Domachowska and Carolina Wozniacki and wild card entrant Marina Erakovic.

With a relatively untroubled course to the final eight, Venus is a match-win away from setting up a semifinal clash with her sister Serena – what for many is looked upon as a billing fitting for a tournament final.

Venus Williams is a three-time champion in Miami, winning two titles back-to-back from 1998-99 and in 2001, after missing the event in 2000. Serena Williams trumps her sister in Miami by doing one better than her sister, winning three back-to-back (2002-04) and last year.

Fast forward to the semifinals: Should the pair meet in the semifinal, defending champion Serena Williams looks to me unstoppable, especially after her precise game over the typically technically brilliant Justine Henin. Moreover, Serena Williams beat her sister earlier this year at the Bangalore Open. Should it come down to it, bet on Serena for she is the better play.

Nila Amerova is a freelance sports writer and regular contributor to the BetUS.com Locker Room.