Venus Williams moved a step closer to her first Key Biscayne title since 2001 when she beat top-ranked Angelique Kerber, 7-5, 6-3, on Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the Miami Open.
Williams, seeded 11th, advanced to the tournament’s semifinals for the first time in seven years. Her opponent Thursday night will be 10th-seeded Johanna Konta, who beat third-seeded Simona Halep, 3-6, 7-6 (7), 6-2. Second-seeded Karolina Pliskova will play 12th-seeded Caroline Wozniacki in the other semifinal.