Venus Sets Up All-Williams Semifinal Clash

World No. 6 Venus Williams dismissed Czech No. 26 seed Iveta Benesova 6-1, 6-4 on Wednesday evening to reach the semifinals of the Sony Ericsson Open, where she will take part in a blockbuster clash with younger sister Serena – who earlier battled past Na Li.

Two breaks of the Benesova serve saw Williams take a commanding one-set lead in the duo’s third encounter. However, the Czech – who has never previously won a set against Williams – broke early in the second set to open up a 4-1 lead. Williams regrouped though and hit back to win the next five games and close out victory after 70 minutes on Stadium. It is the third time she has accounted for Benesova for the loss of just five games (2003 Fed Cup, 2008 Beijing Olympics).

World No. 31 Benesova was contesting her first Sony Ericsson Open quarterfinal on her fifth main draw appearance. The 25 year old reached her seventh WTA Tour final in Hobart (l. to Kvitova) at the start of the season and also reached the semifinals at Acapulco (l. to Pennetta) and Monterrey (l. to Li). She dropped to a 14-9 match record on the season.

Former World No. 1 Williams is bidding for her fourth Sony Ericsson Open title after previously capturing the title in 1998 (d. Kournikova), 1999 (d. S. Williams) and 2001 (d. Capriati). Should she reach her fourth final with victory over Serena Williams, she would cause her sister to relinquish her hold on the No. 1 Sony Ericsson WTA Tour Ranking.

The 28-year-old Williams has compiled a 15-1 match record in 2009, with her only loss coming to Carla Suarez Navarro in the second round of the Australian Open. She became the only active player to win 40 WTA Tour singles titles when she triumphed in Dubai (d. Razzano) the following month and later added to her illustrious collection – which includes seven Grand Slam championships – at Acapulco (d. Pennetta).

Venus Williams takes a 10-9 career lead into her semifinal clash with World No. 1 Serena Williams and has won three of the pair’s past four meetings, including in the 2008 Wimbledon final and most recently in the Dubai semifinals last month. They have met three times before at the Sony Ericsson Open, with Venus winning the 1999 final and 2005 quarterfinal and Serena prevailing in the 2002 semifinal.

"Obviously she's a great player, but I think I'm just going to focus on my game," said Venus, looking ahead to the clash. I don't really take into account if I didn't play my best in my last matches, I just know that I know how to play. So when I go out there tomorrow, I'll just know that I know how to play tennis and then play.

"I enjoy playing her, because we challenge each other the most. I think also you really have to know that - at least I walk out there knowing - that it's not over till it's over. I really have to beat her."