Serena Williams will not let the wind get the better of her again in Auckland.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The US star won through to the semifinals of the ASB Classic with a 6-4 6-3 win over German Laura Siegemund on centre court on Friday.
Williams, who is a 23-time Grand Slam champion and number one seed at the tournament, said it was a fight against Siegemund and the conditions to get to the final four.
The last time she was at the tournament in 2017 the notoriously windy conditions undid her and she made an early exit.
While still "not super comfortable" on court with the wind gusts, Williams said she was trying.
Meanwhile Julia Goerges' chances of three titles in-a-row are over.
The German fourth seed lost to the tournament's fifth seed Caroline Wozniacki in the third quarterfinal of the day.
A former world No 1 and the 2018 Australian Open champion, Wozniacki proved too strong on her way to a 6-1 6-4 victory.
Williams and Woniacki then combined in the last match on the main court at the Auckland Tennis Centre to beat Belgian pair Kirsten Flipkens and Alison Van Uytvanck 7-6 (9) 6-2 and advance to Sunday's doubles final.
This the first tournament that the two have played doubles together.
Earlier in the opening game on Friday, Frenchwoman Alize Cornet fell behind early against American Jessica Pegula.
Pegula took the first set 6-0 before Cornet retired in the second set due to an upper right thigh injury.
The night session featured the last singles quarterfinal between third seed Amanda Anisimova and wildcard Eugenie Bouchard.
Anisimova needed almost two hours to beat Bouchard 6-2 3-6 6-4.
"It has been my lifelong dream," the 18-year-old Anisimova said of facing Williams on Saturday.
"I said before the tournament that my biggest wish was to play her before she retires so I am honestly the happiest I have ever been."
