Black Tennis Pros

It was a fight to the finish today when American Serena Williams and Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova battled it out on the tennis court in Miami at the Sony Ericsson Open. In the end Kuznetsova got knocked out 3-6, 7-5, 6-3.

Serena has been back on the money with regard to her fitness and preparation. She's playing this tournament with the prowess that originally took her to the top.

"I don't feel tired or sore or anything," Williams said 90 minutes after the match. "I feel like I'm really fit. I've been working really hard."

There were some portions of the match though that just were not pretty, and Serena's game was error filled, but she got the job done regardless.

For a brief moment she slowed to where it appeared that she was about to be overtaken by Kuznetsova. Serena took an injury timeout during which she received treatment from the trainer for what was later described as a back injury.

"Once she came out it got better, like straightaway, and it got even better after that."

A win in the final would be a fifth title at this event for Serena. "I haven't won anything five times, except I win all the time in Uno, I don't think that counts."

"I love playing here, all my friends come out. I promised tickets for Saturday, so I was like, `I can't lose. I've got to stay in there a little bit longer.' It was mainly my motivation."

In the words that one of the fans yelled from the stands, "Serena, this is your house"