<p class="title">Serena Williams withstood the determined challenge of Czech qualifier Marie Bouzkova on Saturday, rallying for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory to reach the WTA Toronto final.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams, seeded eighth in a tournament she has won three times, will take on home hope Bianca Andreescu in the championship match on Sunday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams will be seeking her first title since she won her 23rd Grand Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open -- and her first since the birth of her daughter Olympia on September 1 of that year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Meanwhile 19-year-old Andreescu will be trying to become the first Canadian in 50 years to lift the trophy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bouzkova, 21 and ranked 91st in the world, had said it was a dream come true to take on US superstar Williams, and she made a dream start -- breaking Williams three times to take the first set in less than half an hour.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But Williams rallied, slashing her unforced errors in a second set that saw her win the last four games to force the decider.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I just had to play better," Williams said of how she turned things around. "She was playing really well. She did everything well. She had a really good game plan. She was moving great.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I just had to make some adjustments -- mostly mentally to stay positive," Williams said with a laugh.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The hard work wasn't over, as Williams had to fight off three break points in the third game of the third set.</p>.<p class="bodytext">She broke Bouzkova in the next game to finally take control and end the Czech's breakout week.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bouzkova departs Toronto having beaten three straight Grand Slam winners in Sloane Stephens, Jelena Ostapenko and, in the quarter-finals, reigning Wimbledon champion Simona Halep -- who retired injured after dropping the first to Bouzkova on Friday night.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams said she was looking forward to taking on Andreescu, whose run to the final has electrified Toronto crowds.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I've never faced her, but I've kind of become a fan with everyone rooting and cheering so hard," Williams said. "It's kind of been contagious, the 'Bianca Effect.'"</p>.<p class="bodytext">Andreescu shot to prominence with a victory at Indian Wells in March, but this week marks her first tournament since she was forced out of the French Open with a shoulder injury.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I've been through so much the last two months," Andreescu said. "All I can say is that I'm just so happy to be back on court right now. My shoulder's good. I'm in the finals of the Rogers Cup. Life's freaking amazing."</p>
<p class="title">Serena Williams withstood the determined challenge of Czech qualifier Marie Bouzkova on Saturday, rallying for a 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 victory to reach the WTA Toronto final.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams, seeded eighth in a tournament she has won three times, will take on home hope Bianca Andreescu in the championship match on Sunday.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams will be seeking her first title since she won her 23rd Grand Slam title at the 2017 Australian Open -- and her first since the birth of her daughter Olympia on September 1 of that year.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Meanwhile 19-year-old Andreescu will be trying to become the first Canadian in 50 years to lift the trophy.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bouzkova, 21 and ranked 91st in the world, had said it was a dream come true to take on US superstar Williams, and she made a dream start -- breaking Williams three times to take the first set in less than half an hour.</p>.<p class="bodytext">But Williams rallied, slashing her unforced errors in a second set that saw her win the last four games to force the decider.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I just had to play better," Williams said of how she turned things around. "She was playing really well. She did everything well. She had a really good game plan. She was moving great.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I just had to make some adjustments -- mostly mentally to stay positive," Williams said with a laugh.</p>.<p class="bodytext">The hard work wasn't over, as Williams had to fight off three break points in the third game of the third set.</p>.<p class="bodytext">She broke Bouzkova in the next game to finally take control and end the Czech's breakout week.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Bouzkova departs Toronto having beaten three straight Grand Slam winners in Sloane Stephens, Jelena Ostapenko and, in the quarter-finals, reigning Wimbledon champion Simona Halep -- who retired injured after dropping the first to Bouzkova on Friday night.</p>.<p class="bodytext">Williams said she was looking forward to taking on Andreescu, whose run to the final has electrified Toronto crowds.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I've never faced her, but I've kind of become a fan with everyone rooting and cheering so hard," Williams said. "It's kind of been contagious, the 'Bianca Effect.'"</p>.<p class="bodytext">Andreescu shot to prominence with a victory at Indian Wells in March, but this week marks her first tournament since she was forced out of the French Open with a shoulder injury.</p>.<p class="bodytext">"I've been through so much the last two months," Andreescu said. "All I can say is that I'm just so happy to be back on court right now. My shoulder's good. I'm in the finals of the Rogers Cup. Life's freaking amazing."</p>