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Serena Williams fights through flu and advances to French Open final

Serena Williams looked lethargic on Thursday, dropping the first set of her semifinal match against No. 23 Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland. Williams leaned heavily on her racket as Bacsinszky and the chair umpire discussed a call. She coughed incessantly, looking as though she was about to throw up during a second-set changeover.

Then, seemingly out of nowhere, she came alive.

And as so many opponents have learned before, once Serena Williams comes alive, there is no stopping her. Williams prevailed with a 4-6, 6-3, 6-0 win to advance to her third French Open final. She's taken the title in each of her previous final appearances in Paris.

The first set went quickly Thursday, Bacsinszky scoring the only break as she took the set 6-4.

At 2-2 in the second set, Williams held off five break points before succumbing. It looked like Bacsinszky had control of the match. They took their seats for the changeover, Williams coughing forcefully into a towel.
Danielle Elliot