Williams had 13 aces, hit 31 winners to 11, and broke Sharapova’s serve four times.
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After winning an intense first set, Williams had medical treatment – later saying it was just for an upset stomach. At the first deuce of the match, Radwanska prompted adulation from Serena again when striking a fine lob for a 4-3 advantage.
The second set started with a huge cheer as Radwanska held serve for the first time in the match. “I know that she brings a lot to the game”.
Serena Williams of the United States celebrates after defeating Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during in semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016. She broke back to make it level-pegging at 2-2 as the Russian’s serve faltered. Radwanska has won one of her previous four semifinals at a major, but never won a Grand Slam title.
Meanwhile fourth seed Radwanska said she was awe of the world No. 1, telling journalists that it would take something special to beat her in the final.
However, Serena showed on Tuesday afternoon in Melbourne that when she’s on her game even the world’s best will struggle to even hang around with her.
Federer, who is bidding to win his 5th Australian Open and his first Grand Slam since 2012 Wimbledon, faces the victor of an evening match between No. 1 Novak Djokovic and No. 7 Kei Nishikori in the semis.
You really do have to feel for a lot of the top tennis players who have been around for the past few years, as they have barely been given a sniff of winning the big tournaments, thanks to the dominance of the world number one Serena Williams. “I’m really excited just to be in the final; I can’t say that I though I would have been in this final after taking so much time off. Either way, I’ll be excited”. She is in her seventh Australian Open final, her 26 th Major final. Against Williams, she had three, and seven double-faults. “I was trying to be focus on that, especially that it was tough on the one hand side”, Radwanska admitted. I think she started unbelievably, with such a power and speed.
Sharapova came into the tournament light on match practice after injuring her left forearm and said getting that treated would be her main priority on her return home.
The American heads into her seventh Australian Open final having maintained her flawless semifinal record in Melbourne (7-0) and without dropping a set through her first six matches.
That’s pretty good for a 34-year-old!
It was a tight battle and the Russian had two break points herself in the next game, with Williams showing emotion for the first time, screaming “Yes” and pumping her fist as she held on for 5-4.
“It’s obviously always frustrating, but it’s motivating, Sharapova said”. The question is: Do you come in off a low ball because you’re being dragged in, or are you coming in on your terms?
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“When you serve 190 (km/h) wide, I don’t know who’s going to take that”.
