Sometimes it feels like we could just phone it in

Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova in straight sets yesterday in the Miami semifinals. There's really no "news" there, but it is worth mentioning that Sharapova went a break up at the start of both sets. In fact, she came close to being able to serve for the first set. But Williams served her way past all those situations, and left the court with a 6-4, 6-3 victory.

The other semifinal was a bit more complicated. Dominika Cibulkova finally took a set off of Li Na, but only one set. Li defeated her 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, and yes, it was a long winding road to the handshake. Neither player could get her serve going, and the constant wind certainly didn't help. The momentum swings were dramatic, and Cibulkova was close to going up 4-1 in the final set. When the players weren't serving, they played well.

So now, Williams plays Li--another player against whom she has an outstanding record--in the final. Li has never won Miami; Williams has won it six times.

Semifinals in women's doubles will be played today.