Williams Survives Halep's Challenge in Miami's Semis

If you want to rule the realm, you have to depose the queen.

And at Crandon Park for the Miami Open, Serena Williams is in her element.

With every passing year, opponents seems to be getting closer to finding the winning formula. Problem is, they still haven't solved it.

Simona Halep came excruciatingly close upsetting the World No 1, but close only counts ... yadda, yadda, yadda ... slow dances and nuclear attack. However, the 6-2 4-6 7-5 affair was definitely entertaining.

After 130 minutes of top tennis, it was just matter of time when attrition would take its toll on one of them. The numbers being accumulated provided all the necessary evidence as to whom that would be.

Williams' 38 winners against 10 for Halep clearly indicated who was in charge. Serena had all the angles:

However, Halep definitely confirmed she belongs in the same conversation with the queen.

In the finals, Williams will play for her seventh Miami title against Carla Suárez Navarro, who cruised past Andrea Petkovic with a convincing 6-3 6-3 thrashing.

Serena leads 4-0 in their past meetings. The queen still reigns supreme.