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Serena Williams sweeps way into Toronto semifinals
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TORONTO (AP) — Top-ranked Serena Williams advanced to the Rogers Cup semifinals Friday night, beating Italy’s Roberta Vinci 6-4, 6-3.

The winner of the first three Grand Slam events of the season, the 33-year-old Williams will face Belinda Bencic of Switzerland, an 0-6, 6-3, 6-1 winner over fifth-seeded Ana Ivanovic of Serbia.

“Just another step in the right direction,” said Williams, preparing for the U.S. Open. “I don’t feel like I’m at my best or anywhere near it. But I feel like I’m going in the right direction and I want to keep that up.”

Williams won titles in Toronto titles in 2001, 2011 and 2013.

Earlier, second-seeded Simona Halep of Romania rebounded to beat sixth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 0-6, 6-3, 6-1.

Halep will face 15th-seeded Sara Errani of Italy in the semifinals. Errani topped Ukraine’s Lesia Tsurenko 6-4, 6-4.

In the doubles quarterfinals, the top-seeded team of Martina Hingis of Switzerland and Sania Mirza of India beat Taiwan’s Chan Hao-ching and Chan Yung-jan 6-4, 6-2.