Williams hoping for poignant US Open win

Serena Williams is hoping to give the US Open a home champion as the tournament remembers the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York 10 years ago to the day.

Tributes will be paid at Flushing Meadows to the almost 3,000 people who died and those who took part in the rescue attempts, and the women's singles final will be a poignant occasion for Williams.

Ten years ago she had just lost to her sister Venus, who was watching in the stands tonight, in the final, and she said: "It's definitely more special for me.

"I really wanted to get here and get to the final, with everything that New York and Americans have been through. It's hard to believe it's been 10 years. I have come full circle. Hopefully I can do better 10 years later."

The 29-year-old beat world number one Caroline Wozniacki 6-2 6-4 last night to set up a meeting with Australian ninth seed Samantha Stosur, who defeated surprise package Angelique Kerber 6-3 2-6 6-2.

Williams will attempt to win her fourth US Open and 14th Grand Slam singles title only three months after returning to action following a year out with injury and health problems.

She said: "I really feel like I don't have anything to lose. I have beaten all the odds. Six months ago I was in the hospital and now I'm in the final.

"So I feel like, regardless of the result, I have been a champion for everyone out there who is fighting against all odds and staying positive."

Wozniacki admitted she had been beaten by the better player and felt Williams' serve, which generated 11 aces, had been the key.

She said: "I was definitely trying. I never gave up. I was always trying just to play the next point. But Serena played very, very well today.

"She's in great shape, serving well, returning well, playing her hard strokes. Especially that serve was just a killer. It's definitely not fun to be returning those first serves.

"Today she was just better than me. I have to accept that and just go back on the practice court and try to improve a few things and then try again next time."

Wozniacki inevitably faced questions about her ranking after again failing to win a slam, and the Dane added: "I'm still number one in the ranking and number one in the race.

"No-one can take that away from me for now. It's definitely been a successful year for me. I cannot complain. I won six titles. I have made two semi-finals of Grand Slams."

Williams leads her head-to-head with Stosur 4-2 but the Australian is taking heart from the fact that one of those wins came at a Grand Slam, when she beat the then top seed 8-6 in the third set on her way to the French Open final last year.

Stosur said: "I think the one good thing is that one of the matches I beat Serena was actually in a grand slam. That's obviously a big confidence booster.

"But she's been playing extremely well and, when she comes back, I'm sure it's always to win grand slam titles. It's going to be tough."

Stosur's match with Kerber was played out on Grandstand court after the lengthy rain delays prompted the organisers to schedule the men's and women's semi-finals on the same day.

Both players argued against the decision, although it could yet prove to be an advantage for Stosur because of the late finish for Williams, who did not leave the court until after 11.30pm.

Stosur said of the scheduling: "I understand it's a tricky situation, but I think things could have been done a little bit differently or communication could have been better to express why things were going to happen the way they happened.

"In the end, Grandstand is a fantastic court, it was a great atmosphere out there and I loved every second of it. That wasn't the point. I was just trying to stick up for what I thought was the right thing, and unfortunately it didn't happen."

Williams was also unhappy a women's semi-final was played not on Arthur Ashe, and she said: "I definitely think both women's matches should have been on centre court. I was really shocked that it wasn't."

The 28th seed, meanwhile, has no worries about the lack of time between matches, adding: "I'm going to handle it like any other turnaround.

"I definitely won't be going out tonight. I've had worse turnarounds. I've gone out until like 6am and had to practise at 8am. I should be fine."