TORONTO — World number one Serena Williams rolled into the semi-finals of the Rogers Cup on Friday with a clinical 6-4 6-3 win over Italy's Roberta Vinci, setting up an intriguing showdown with Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic.
Williams, a three-time champion on the Canadian hardcourts, stretched her winning streak in Toronto to 14 matches but on a humid evening she was made to sweat for her spot in the last four by her 53rd ranked opponent.
Playing her first event since winning Wimbledon, Williams will next meet 18-year-old Bencic, who took apart fifth seed Anna Ivanovic 6-4 6-2.