Cetkovska's semifinal against Li had a little bit of everything. The Czech, ranked No. 40 in the world, drew first blood by breaking Li in the opening game, and maintained control throughout the first set with a perfect mixture of offense and defense. But in the second set, while serving with a 3-2 lead, Cetkovska's nerves surfaced. She served two double faults, allowing Li to level the match at t3-3. Two more Cetkovska double faults in the twelfth game gave Li the second set, 7-5.

The third set was more about drama than quality. There were eight breaks of serve in total, and a number of costly errors. Both competitors were going after their shots and trying to force the action; there was nothing tentative in their play. Li's coach Michael Mortensen had advised her that Cetkovska would miss on the forehand, but Li wasn't drawing a lot of errors from that side. The second seed also acknowledged she struggled with the variety on Cetkovska's backhand, especially her tricky slice. Cetkovska reached her first match point at 5-4, but once again nerves appeared in the form of another double fault, and, ultimately, the match entered a third set tiebreak. In the tiebreak, Li fought off three more match points, one on an incredible net cord winner, but squandered one of her own. Finally Li sent a forehand wide, and Cetkovska converted her fifth match point, advancing to her first WTA Tour final.

(1) Caroline Wozniacki def. (3) Francesca Schiavone, 7-6(2), 6-3
There were few surprises in this match. This was the seventh encounter between Wozniacki and Schiavone, and the sixth within the last sixteen months. While Wozniacki holds the edge in their head-to-head, 5-2, after Friday's victory, most of the matches have been closely contested. The change of pace that Schiavone provides often troubles Wozniacki, and forces her to adjust to the height and trajectory of each stroke. Wozniacki is often lauded for her consistency, but one of her underrated weapons is her tenacity. She showed her resolve tonight in coming from behind to defeat Schiavone.
Schiavone started strongly, and served for the opening set at 5-4. A costly double fault set up break point for Wozniacki. On break point, the two played the point of the match, an entertaining all-court point with drop shots, lobs, and finally a missed overhead by Schiavone to let the World No. 1 pull even. Wozniacki controlled the tiebreak, and the momentum had clearly shifted once she secured the first set.

Before the start of the second set, Wozniacki left the court for treatment, and returned with her right thigh taped. It didn't appear to impair her movement at all, and after the match she described it as a thigh strain, but "nothing to worry about." Schiavone battled to stay even in the second set, using her usual array of slices, spins, and volleys to successfully fight off four break points in the third game, and two more in the fifth. Finally, Wozniacki's consistency proved to be more than the Italian could handle. Wozniacki broke to lead 4-3, staved off a few break points against her in the next game, then broke again to dismiss Schiavone and reach her fourth straight final in New Haven.
 

Around the grounds...
Cetkovska is currently ranked a career-high No. 40, but will rise to No. 32 by reaching the finals this week, and will reach No. 26 with a New Haven title... The 26-year-old Czech attributes her resurgence this year to improved concentration, and to the experience she has gained on Tour. She now lives in France, and shares coach Stephane Charret with Mathilde Johansson... Li was critical of her play tonight: "I think today serve was like the worst ever. I mean, no first serve. The second serve like just push back to the court."... It's becoming a tradition, but there was a twist this year. After Wozniacki's win Friday evening, the Yale football team came down to Stadium Court for a photo with the three-time New Haven Open champion. Tonight, they were also joined by Caroline's boyfriend, golfer Rory McIlroy, who donned a Yale football jersey for the occasion...

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