Radwanska, meanwhile, is yet to triumph at a major tournament and has only reached one previous grand slam final. For entirely different reasons, both players are a joy to watch when in full flow, yet Serena has rarely faced the fourth seeded Pole in such a light.
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She has reached the finals of the singles at the Australian Open on 6 occasions in the past, and won every single time. After sitting out the rest of last season, citing various physical ailments but surely also recovering mentally, the world No. 1 then retired with a knee problem on her return at the Hopman Cup.
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 to address the issue. At the first deuce of the match, Radwanska prompted adulation from Serena again when striking a fine lob for a 4-3 advantage. Is she can frustrate Serena by absorbing the American’s power game – something she’s yet to figure out – and wait for errors to creep into her opponent’s play, there is a definite chance for her.
Once, however, Kerber broke for 6-5 the match decidedly swung in her favor.
After a shaky start, Williams found her range against Sharapova and pinned Sharapova deep behind the baseline with her ultra-aggressive shot making. That shouldn’t be surprising, given she still has plenty to keep her motivated.
With the win, Serena remains only one win away from matching Steffi Graf’s Open-era Grand Slam record of 22 titles.
Two matches still remain before that ambition becomes a reality, however.
Agnieszka Radwanska is theoretically among the world’s elite female tennis players. Her fourth-seeded opponent admitted she couldn’t do much. Against Williams, she had three, and seven double-faults. And she has impressed en route to her fifth Grand Slam semifinal, dropping just one set and cruising past 10th seed Carla Suárez Navarro in the quarterfinals. A mesmerising volleyed drop-shot victor from the Pole was applauded by Williams.
The signs were ominous from the beginning for 17-time Grand Slam champion and No. 3-ranked Federer.
Australian-born Johanna Konta, who now has British citizenship, plays a women’s semifinal against Angelique Kerber on Rod Laver Arena after defending champion Serena Williams takes on Agnieszka Radwanska.
Williams said she couldn’t explain her 11-year domination of Sharapova – she has won 19 of their 21 meetings overall – except to say she rises to the big challenges.
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“I felt like I really committed myself…it’s just a great thing to be in the final after taking such a long time off”. It’s just a fun place to be and the crowd has always been really awesome for me.
