In contrast, Radwanska has been the in form player since last year’s US Open, winning four titles in Asia. Neither has Novak Djokovic. That would pull her even with Steffi Graf for the most majors in the Open era and second-most in history behind Margaret Court’s 24. It’s safe to say that most people will be siding with Williams, who has played what many consider to be the best tennis of her career during this previous year.
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The top seed hit 18 winners in the opening six games and her second serve was averaging a higher speed than Radwanska’s first. But it is a reflection of an athlete giving her very best for an entire match, irrespective of score, and for that they can hardly be faulted. “But I didn’t think I’d be doing so much, so fast; so thank you so much for all of your support”, Williams added, addressing the crowd and her fanbase, known as “Rena’s Army”. From there she’d serve out the match, three aces and a forehand volley victor from mid court. The real Radwanska emerged, which salvaged some of her dignity, but only made it all the more frightening that this version had been so thoroughly suppressed in the first set.
Williams was supreme a year ago, but took points off herself for starting slowly too often and having always to fight back.
A victor of 21 Grand Slam singles titles, Williams is exceptionally tough to beat at this stage of a major.
Serena Williams put in a almost flawless performance to reach the Australian Open final, crushing Agnieszka Radwanska 6-0 6-4 in Melbourne on Thursday. Mentally I needed that break after the Open. “You can’t underestimate Kerber“.
The American won 6-0 6-4 under the Rod Laver Arena roof, with rain pouring down outside at Melbourne Park.
The final will pit Williams against seventh-seeded Angelique Kerber of Germany, who ended Johanna Konta’s fairytale run at the Australian Open with a 7-5 6-2 victory on Thursday to earn a place in her first grand slam final.
“I know Aga really well”.
In announcing the review, ATP chairman Chris Kermode said the reports had “caused damage to the sport”, which compelled the major stakeholders in tennis – the International Tennis Federation, ATP and WTA tours, and the four Grand Slams – to take quick action. Kerber is getting at least 54 percent of her first serves in play and has won no less than 56 percent of those points.
Meanwhile, after the loss, Sharapova said: “It’s motivating because she’s at a different level”.
A fan favorite due to her varied game, Radwanska rebounded from a break deficit and led 4-3 in the second. “I came up with the right intensity, great concentration”. An epic seventh game, including the first deuce of the match, allowed her to hold serve, but an easy Williams hold was followed by another lapse from Radwanska who was broken again.
Despite losing, she is set to rise from 47th in the world to inside the top 30 and would be seeded at the French Open and Wimbledon should she maintain that ranking through the summer.
“I don’t think anyone can really play on that kind of level at all”, Radwanska said.
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“Everyone was nervous for me that I was taking four months off, but this is a big year for me, and I wanted to improve and do better”. “I was actually happy to get back into tennis”, she said.
