But regardless of which player advances to try to down the most unstoppable force the women’s game has to offer, Williams figures to be a heavy favorite as she aims to capture Australian Open title No. 7 and her 22nd major championship. Her groundstrokes lost some juice, and her feet moved with considerably more resistance.
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One thing to appreciate here is that Serena is not playing Victoria Azarenka, whom many felt was going to be not just the finalist, but the victor of this tournament.
“I’m really excited to be in another final; it kind of blows my mind”. Radwanska recovered a break deficit to lead 4-3 but Williams won the final three games to book a spot in a 26th grand slam final.
Going into the semifinal, Radwanska was undefeated in her nine outings this season, winning 21 of her past 22 sets and 27 of her past 31 matches. At one point, they engaged in a sensational 15-point rally that ended with a perfectly executed and bold drop shot.
This time, Serena Williams cleared the major semifinal hurdle with plenty of room to spare. This is a match Kerber wants to turn into a messy dogfight from the baseline, but Serena punishes weak serves, and Kerber’s serve does not appear to be ready to hold up over two sets.
It was the worst possible opening for Radwanska, with Williams, the oldest world no 1 in WTA history, breaking and then using her huge power advantage to easily hold serve and go 2-0 clear.
Other opponents have also paid tribute to Williams, sentiments the veteran said were rewarding.
“I think if you’re serving maybe 180 (kph) against somebody else compared to Serena, that’s an ace”, said the 28-year-old. After a tough opening frame against Konta, she pulled away with her flat, overpowering groundstrokes.
“She wrote to me, but I was not able to check it right now”, Kerber said.
Kerber is fortunate to be here. “No but that’s good” she said. “I saw the match today against Aga”.
The American won 6-0 6-4 under the Rod Laver Arena roof, with rain pouring down outside at Melbourne Park.
The Pole admitted she was left in awe after seeing her 13-match win streak emphatically halted by the Williams juggernaut.
“I was a little lethargic”, Williams said later.
“I just feel like I’m being the best I can and I can’t believe I’m in another final”.
But those questions were answered fast.
Serena will be joined by big sister Venus in the women’s field for the BNP Paribas Open in March, a year after Serena returned to the Indian Wells event in the California desert to end to her 14-year boycott.
The first set Wednesday was no contest, over in 20 minutes.
Asked after she beat Johanna Konta in the semifinals if she would seek out Graf’s advice, Kerber laughed and said, “Steffi, write me please”.
“I know Aga really well”.
Now it’s on to Kerber. “She was really explosive off the return”. “She’s beaten me before, too, and pretty good”. I won against a top-10 player in straight sets. Overall, Kerber is 1-5 against Williams.
She, then, had been bidding to reach her second grand slam final after Wimbledon in 2012. “I have a lot of support from Germany and around the world”. At one point in that nearly immaculate first set, she mishit a backhand into the net. “Tomas has caused me a lot of problems over the years” said Federer who improved to 16-6 against the Czech player.
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First Russian female to become World No.1. This is an athlete constantly in search of her best tennis self. But I have nothing to lose.
