The 20th showdown between the sisters ensures a finalist from the family Saturday. The Williamses have won eight of the past 11 Key Biscayne titles.
“I believe we are the best in the world,” Venus said. “I enjoy playing Serena because we challenge each other the most.”
“I’m always going to be up for ’V,’ because she’s playing really well and always playing me super tough,” top-ranked Serena said.
She advanced first Wednesday, overcoming a dismal start to beat unseeded Li Na 4-6, 7-6 (1), 6-2. Five hours later she was joined in the semis by No. 5-seeded Venus, who beat No. 26 Iveta Benesova 6-1, 6-4.
In the showcase night match, No. 2 Roger Federer needed dominant serving and one lucky bounce to beat Andy Roddick 6-3, 4-6, 6-4. Federer lost serve only once and broke after hitting a passing shot on the next-to-last point that clipped the net cord and hopped over Roddick’s racket for a winner.
“I didn’t really catch a break there,” a glum Roddick said during his 90-second postmatch news conference. “At least it became a battle.”
Federer improved to 17-2 against Roddick and avenged a defeat when they met in Key Biscayne quarterfinals last year. Roddick lost despite the backing of a near-capacity crowd of 12,606 that included Miami Dolphins linebacker Joey Porter, who repeatedly stood and screamed in support of Roddick from his third-row seat.
