PARIS — If there were any lingering doubts that Serena Williams could claim a third French Open title at this year's tournament they were swiftly dispelled in an expertly-executed quarter-final victory over Sara Errani on Wednesday.
The world number one, a Roland Garros champion in 2002 and 2013, had been troubled in her three previous rounds, but a 6-1 6-3 crushing of the Italian claycourt ace showed the American was still a clear favourite to claim another Suzanne Lenglen Cup.
Williams will now face the 23rd-seeded Swiss Timea Bacsinszky, who beat Belgian sensation Alison van Uytvanck 6-4 7-5, for a place in Saturday's final, where either 2008 champion Ana Ivanovic or Czech Lucie Safarova await.