American tennis player Venus Williams defeated Canadian youngster Eugenie Bouchard 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-3 to advance to the Pan Pacific Open semifinals Thursday.
Williams, who hasn’t played in the Tokyo tournament since 2009, broke the teenager to go up 5-2 in the third set. At Ariake Coliseum, Williams subsequently went on to win the match that lasted three hours.
“It was a very tough match,” Williams said. “She played very well. I don’t know how I was able to win the match. I just wanted to stay in Japan longer.”
Williams will play either Svetlana Kuznetsova or Petra Kvitova in the semis.
“I was just fighting until the end,” Williams said. “It was disappointing to lose the second set, but to win the third set is the goal, so I’m happy.”
