Serena Williams beats Errani to reach Madrid final

[May 11, 2013]  MADRID (AP) -- Top-ranked Serena Williams will have a chance to win her 50th career title after beating Sara Errani of Italy 7-5, 6-2 Saturday to reach the final of the Madrid Open.

After a skittish start, Williams dominated Errani and broke her final service game in both sets.

The defending champion improved to 5-0 against the seventh-ranked Errani and to 30-2 overall this year.

Williams will play the winner of the other semifinal between second-seeded Maria Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic. If Sharapova makes the final, the No. 1 ranking will also be at stake.

Later Saturday, Rafael Nadal played fellow Spaniard Pablo Andujar and Tomas Berdych faced Stanislas Wawrinka in the semifinals of the men's event.

[Associated Press; By JOSEPH WILSON]

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