Serena Williams, who plays Angelique Kerber in the women’s final at the Australian Open on Saturday, says the price of fame means she doesn’t get out much, but she’ll take that scenario as long as she’s at the top of the women’s game.
Advertisement
Serena Williams will face off against Angelique Kerber in the AO final with both women having a connection to all-time great Steffi Graf.
One has just reached her first Grand Slam final, the other is eyeing a record-equalling 22nd Major triumph. Most spectators – including a woman with a sign reading: “Just Married But Willing to Exchange for Federer” – were behind him, applauding Djokovic’s service faults and giving Federer a standing ovation when he broke to go ahead 4-2 in the third set.
In the quarter-finals Williams made five-time Grand Slam champion Maria Sharapova look mediocre while in the semi-finals she reduced Agnieszka Radwanska to a mere spectator.
The gulf in career achievements is massive to say the least and, as a result, Kerber too said she had “nothing to lose” as she prepares for the biggest match of her career – an Australian Open final against an unstoppable world No. 1. She however, comes into the final as the underdog, with one of the greatest players of the sport up against her.
A former World No.2, Radwanska pulled up more soundly in the second set, leveling proceedings at 3-3 after falling behind an early break, and pushing Williams to produce her best tennis in the final game – which she opened with three of the eight aces she hit on the day. “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”. I’m really looking forward to taking this challenge. I was the favorite in NY. “I feel lonely without my partner”, Hingis said.
Raonic won the first set on his second set point when he challenged an out call on his serve, and replays showed to have hit most of the line. ‘But that was a learning experience. “So hopefully I’m going to take that to the court, not only for this tournament but for the rest of these Slams”.
The German seventh seed has lost five of her six meetings with Williams, with her only victory coming in Cincinnati in 2012. Of course I must play my best tennis to have a chance against her but actually I will try to give everything. Despite the inexperience at this level, she has obvious talent and could make this an intriguing battle worth watching. Speaking in her pre-final press conference, she spoke about how Singapore was her turning point. I know that she brings a lot to the game.
“She goes on court and she just wants to kill it. Going like full power for everything”. For sure it was another good season for me.
The odds are stacked against the world No. 7 German.
Advertisement
Kerber is the first German in the Australian final since Anke Huber in 1996, with Graf the last victor from that country in 1994. Three months after that, Graf retired and Williams began her first major title run at the US Open. Although she has finished in the top 10 for the last four years she has generally flown under the radar, though that is changing. She’s returning good. I think the first few balls, they are really deciding in the match.
