Williams remains unbeaten in nine matches against Radwanska, and is an overwhelming favorite going into the final against the victor of Thursday’s later match between No. 7-seeded Angelique Kerber and No. 47-ranked Johanna Konta, the first British woman since 1983 to reach a major semifinal.
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When Konta made it to the quarterfinals, the tennis establishment in Britain erupted with headlines about her historic success. Williams took a four-month break after coming two matches shy of a calendar-year Grand Slam last year.
“I would say this is probably the best slam I’ve played in a year, and I’ve won a lot in a year”, Williams told reporters on Friday.
“I must play my best I can play”, Kerber said on the eve of her first grand slam final at Melbourne Park.
Radwanska managed to get on the board in the second set but the damage was already done, with Williams reaching her 26th grand slam final and fifth in the past six majors.
As the Briton’s error count climbed, the German pounced to go 4-1 in front, screaming “C’mon!” as her opponent hit a weak forehand into the net.
Williams started to miss a few and Radwanska started to compete, breaking the top seed to level at 3-3 and then drawing the biggest applause of the match when she pulled her opponent in with a drop shot then pushed away the victor with a neat backhand volley.
A win in Saturday’s decider against seventh seed Angelique Kerber would see her match Graf’s mark that has stood since the German great’s last major win at the French Open in 1999.
It’s been a familiar feeling among the players Williams has brushed aside on the way to the final, her seventh at Melbourne Park. “They are always behind you when it was not so good”, Kerber said.
“I definitely think I needed the time off”, she said.
“I just wanted to make sure I was executing to the best of my ability what I wanted to get done out there”.
Radwanska’s serve was like shooting practice for the American, particularly given her first serve sat at a lowly 50 per cent in the first set, which Williams sealed to love in just 20 minutes.
The Sydney-born 24-year-old had not had much contact with either of the Murray brothers but their mother Judy, who is also Fed Cup captain, had postponed a flight home to stay and support.
Williams remained unbeaten in nine matches against Radwanska, whom she beat in the 2012 Wimbledon final. But she taught me actuly that I’m on a good way and to try to believe in myself.
“She started unbelievable, with such a power and speed”, Radwanska said. “It kind of blows my mind right now”, Williams said on-court after the match.
With the roof on Rod Laver Arena closed because of a thunderstorm closing in, the most obvious noise in the first set was the chirping of trapped birds who’d taken shelter in the stadium.
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The first men’s semifinal between defending champion Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer will open the night session Thursday.
