Top-seed Serena Williams outlasts 12th-seed Caroline Wozniacki for 3-set win in Cincy semis

Serena Williams returns a volley to Caroline Wozniacki, from Denmark, during a semifinal match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Kohl) (The Associated Press)

Caroline Wozniacki, from Denmark, returns to Serena Williams during a semifinal match at the Western & Southern Open tennis tournament, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014, in Mason, Ohio. (AP Photo/David Kohl) (The Associated Press)

MASON, Ohio – Serena Williams earned a 2-6, 6-2, 6-4 win over Caroline Wozniacki on Saturday to reach the final of the Western & Southern Open.

The top-seeded Williams bounced back from losing her first set of the tournament to beat the 12th-seeded Wozniacki for the eighth time in nine career matches.

Williams has never won the championship in five previous appearances. She lost a third-set tiebreaker to Victoria Azarenka last year.

Williams will play the winner of Saturday night's match between fifth-seeded Maria Sharapova and ninth-seeded Ana Ivanovic for the championship.

Williams and Wozniacki both struggled with their serves, leading to a combined 15 service breaks, including the first five games of the third set.