Serena Williams only faces one more hurdle towards clinching her fourth U.S. Open crown after thumping Sara Errani 6-1, 6-2 in the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows.
The American favorite will take on Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka, after the Belarusian got the better of Maria Sharapova in a tense three-setter 3-6, 6-2, 6-4.
Williams blitzed her way to her sixth final in New York, like she has all tournament - in straight sets. Errani, who is having her best year as a singles player, having also reached the final at the French Open, had no answers to the power of Williams.
"I definitely played better today," Williams said. "I played better than my other matches.
"And playing someone (like Errani), you have to go better... I was more consistent. I did make some errors, but I was more consistent than I felt I was in the past."
Against Errani there were no signs of self-destruction, shown infamously against Kim Clijsters a couple of years back, as the American went about her job in a thoroughly professional manner, obliterating any chances the Italian might have had. "I don't think I'm up for the sportsmanship award," Williams said. "I mean, I'm a really good sportsman, I think. I think I'm really nice. I talk to everybody in the locker room.
"I don't know if that's sportsmanship, but I try to leave everything on the court. Once the loss is over, then, you know, I'm happy for the other person.
"Like I said, my goal this year was not to get in any fights, but something happens, then, oh, you know, I try to count ten; hopefully I can make it."
Errani knew she would need to be at her best as well as hope for some luck if she was to stand any chance of pulling off a massive upset. "I just try first set to be a bit more on the defense, to receive a bit more far away, and play her high balls and try to make that game -- then was not so good, so I changed and try to be a bit more aggressive," Errani said of her strategy in the game. "In any case, it was very difficult."
Williams, however, reserved special praise for Errani, with the 30-year-old expecting her 25-year-old semi-final opponent to improve. "She played really well," Williams said. "She's such a good hope for Italy.
"She's such a good fighter. I can see her improve so much. She played really well."
The 14-time Grand Slam champion has the edge against Azarenka; the American has got the better of the world number one in the semi-finals of both Wimbledon and the London Olympics and holds a career 9-1 record. "I don't have anything to lose," Williams added. "I feel like I'm going up against I personally think the most consistent and the best player this year, being Victoria Azarenka... it will be a good challenge for me."