Williams won six of the next eight games to take the first set 6-4, then followed up by winning the first five games in her 6-1 second-set victory. “Hopefully I can play my best tennis or I’ll be in trouble”, said the popular 26-year-old, who is on a 13-match win streak. It’s not necessarily anyone in particular.
Advertisement
Williams found a way to hold for 1-2, and with Sharapova serving at 30-15 – in complete control and up a break – she self-destructed. “Against every other opponent, she can hurt them”.
Sharapova came out firing to start, taking an early 2-0 lead on Australia Day.
Serena Williams, with 21 grand slam titles in her trophy cabinet, thinks she has nothing left to prove to anyone and just wants to have fun for the remainder of her career. Williams triumphed despite being sick for most of the second week.
In their last nine matches – dating back to 2013 – only once has Sharapova notched more aces than double faults.
Nishikori twice led by a service break in the third set, but both times could not sustain his high level and aggression.
“Tomas has caused me a lot of problems over the years, but it’s been a pleasure playing against him”, said Federer.
“Against Serena, as we all know, the return is one of her great strengths”. Then Serena must have suddenly remembered that despite her record against Sharapova, she still has to actually play well. Instead, the Polish fourth seed prefers to dissect her opponents with a thousand cuts, using her craft and variety as well as exceptional court sense. “He always makes you play your best”. Thought at times, when I got in the rally I wasn’t moving forward, wasn’t cutting the angles off enough.
It means Federer will now face either top seed Novak Djokovic or Japan’s Kei Nishikori, who play later on Tuesday, for a place in the final. “I knew it was going to be tough”. “She’s been playing really well towards the end of the year, and already this year she’s been very consistent”. My best is what is going to be necessary to win against him. “Just tried to be focused”.
It was Radwanska’s third win in four matches against Suarez Navarro. With the age difference, the longer a match lasts between Djokovic and Federer, the more of an advantage it should give the younger Serb star.
A net cord prevented Sharapova from sealing the hold and a lengthy game ensued in which Williams carved out four set points. As hot as she has been, Radwanska is fortunate to still be alive in Melbourne. In their last 14 meetings she has won just one set.
“It was super intense”, the 21 Grand Slam victor reflected later.
“I don’t think so”. That shouldn’t be surprising, given she still has plenty to keep her motivated. “I feel exhausted. But when you are on court you have to fight, you have to run, you have to be there, and today I don’t have the good feeling to play good tennis, the good mentality to play more aggressive or try to play a little bit better than I play”. The 17-time Grand Slam victor is 34 years, 176 days old.
Thursday’s semi-final promises to be a test of Djokovic’s continued dominance of men’s tennis, after his achievement in losing only one Grand Slam match last season.
Advertisement
Williams was broken in the opening game of the match, and looked slow and tentative. She struck an ace out wide and two points later a fine serve set up a routine forehand victor.
