Serena Williams faces Simona Halep on Friday in the 2013 Western & Southern Open in Cincinnati. The match starts at 3 p.m. ET. Watch the live stream HERE.
World No. 1 Williams bounced back from her three-set scare on Wednesday against Eugenie Bouchard (4-6, 6-2, 6-2) and defeated Mona Barthel in two sets (6-4, 6-1). Williams has extra motivation to win at the Cincinnati Masters - it's one title she doesn't have.
"Apparently I've done well here once - I got to the semifinals, but it was a smaller tournament back then," Williams told WTATennis.com on Wednesday. "I have to get used to these conditions because this is a tournament I don't have. If I play like (I did against Bouchard), I'll continue not to have it."
With the exception of an early exit at Wimbledon, Williams has been dominant all season. She came to Cincinnati with a 56-3 record and eight titles to her name, including one from the French Open.
To continue the bid for her first Western & Southern Open title, Williams must go through Halep. The 21-year-old Romanian, ranked No. 25 in the World, already has three titles on the season to go along with her 31-13 record prior to the tournament's start.
Her most iconic moment of the tournament came when she surprised many by defeating 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli, who then announced her retirement from tennis.
Halep has thus far needed three sets to win each match: Su-Wei Hsieh (6-7, 6-1, 6-2), Bartoli (3-6, 6-4, 6-1) and, on Thursday, Samantha Stosur (6-4, 4-6, 6-2).
Friday will be the third meeting between Halep and Williams. Williams won their previous two meetings, with their head-to-head taking place this year at Rome - Williams won in two sets, 6-3, 6-0.
*Stats via WTATennis.com and MatchStat.com.
