Three-time Sony Ericsson Open champion Venus Williams defeated Marion Bartoli 6-3 6-4 to advance to the finals of her neighborhood tournament.

Seed No.13 Bartoli had made notable results in Miami by losing only three games to top seed Svetlana Kuznetsova in the fourth round and knocking out Yanina Wickmayer in straight sets in the quarterfinals, before falling to seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams. The Frenchwoman now has to find satisfaction in reaching her first semifinal in Miami and making her best result of this season.

The world No.5 Williams, seeded third in Miami, has extended her winning streak to 16 matches and is just one win away from claiming her third title in a row (after Dubai and Acapulco). In the final the American will face the winner of the high-profile semifinal between Justine Henin and Kim Clijsters. (photo: Emmett Anderson)

Third seed Venus Williams became the first member of the final four at the 2010 Sony Ericsson Open, beating seed No.6 Agnieszka Radwanska 6-3 6-1 in the quarterfinals. The 29-year-old Williams fired eight aces and lost just seven points on her first serve against the Pole. The American seven-time Grand Slam champion has now won 14 matches in a row and is just two wins away from her third straight tournament title, the feat she accomplished in 2002.

Awaiting Williams in the semifinals is Marion Bartoli, seeded 13th, who defeated No.12 seed Yanina Wickmayer in their first meeting. Bartoli managed to hold serve after six straight breaks to win the first set, and then came back from triple set point down at 4-5 in the second set to win the match 6-4 7-5.

Williams and Bartoli have played twice so far and are tied at 1-1. (photos: chascow, Emmett Anderson)

The 2007 Wimbledon finalist Marion Bartoli defeated top-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-3 6-0  in the fourth round of the Sony Ericsson Open and scored her first victory over the two-time Grand Slam champion.

The 13th-seeded Bartoli broke Kuznetsova twice in the first set and converted all three of her break chances in the second set in which her opponent won just eight points. However, we have to mention that Kuznetsova’s performance was affected by a shoulder problem, and the Russian had three medical treatments during the match.

The world No.4 Kuznetsova, who is yet to win a title this season, won this tournament four years ago and reached the semifinals the last two years. Bartoli advanced to the quarterfinals in Miami only for the second time, while in her five other attempts she had won one match.

Bartoli’s record against Top 5 players has got even better today, as the French world No.15 earned her seventh win in her last 11 matches against the members of the elite. (photo: chascow)

Our dear reader Teerin is contributing to Women's Tennis Blog once again, this time by creating a countdown of the best moments in the 2009 tennis season.

Teerin would like to have been able to include more memorable situations, but YouTube videos can't be more than 10 minutes long. Which WTA moments would you add to Teerin's Top 10? I would include the emotional retirement of Ai Sugiyama and also, I would put Kim Clijsters' US Open win on top of the list.

Teerin, thank you so much for your continuous and active support of Women's Tennis Blog.

Aravane Rezai won the biggest title of her career playing against Marion Bartoli in an all-French final of the Commonwealth Bank Tournament of Champions in Bali.

Of course, injuries where not avoided this time either, with top seed Bartoli retiring in tears because of a left quadriceps strain after losing the first set 7-5. Rezai had actually rallied from a set point down at 3-5 in the opening set.

"I'd prefer to win in a different way, but it's tennis, a lot of different things happen," said the 22-year-old Rezai after winning the showcase of the up-and-coming stars of women's tennis. (via Sony Ericsson WTA Tour)