US Open 2013: Serena Williams races into semi-finals without dropping a game
Carla Suarez was beaten 6-0, 6-0
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Your support makes all the difference.Serena Williams gave Carla Suarez Navarro a double bagel for her birthday as the defending champion raced into the semi-finals of the US Open.
Suarez Navarro's previous record against Williams gave a hint of what was to come, with the Spaniard, who turned 25 today, having won just five games in two previous matches.
This was not nearly as close.
From the moment the American held her opening game to love, Suarez Navarro was scrambling just to win the odd point.
She managed only five in an opening set that lasted just 19 minutes.
The subdued crowd on Arthur Ashe did not know how to react and it did not get much better in the second set.
Suarez Navarro had two chances to get on the board in the second game but could not take them.
She had another opening in the fifth game as Williams momentarily struggled with the swirling wind and gave up two break points but both went begging.
It had not been a good evening for Spaniards on Flushing Meadows' centre court - Marcel Granollers had not won a game in the final two sets of the preceding match against Novak Djokovic.
Williams was every bit as dominant as her fellow top seed, and the 6-0 6-0 demolition was completed in 52 minutes.
The 31-year-old will meet sixth seed Li Na in the last four in what should be a much closer affair.
Williams felt the wind had been a big factor in the scoreline, saying: "She's a great player. The conditions are so tough and it was not her best tennis today. I've been playing here for like 50 years so I've kind of got used to the conditions."
Scarily for the rest of the field, Williams does not feel she is playing her best tennis but is looking forward to her battle with Li.
"I think it'll be a great match," she said. "She's playing some of the best tennis in her career. It will be really tough but I'll come out here and have fun."
PA
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