“It’s just an incredible feeling to be in the semi-finals here for the first time”.
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She promised to do her best to prevent Williams from matching Graf’s 22 Grand Slam titles, saying “the Germans must be together”.
Kerber dictated terms in the second set to book her place in the final.
Konta is playing in her first Australian Open main draw, after losing in qualifying rounds three years in a row.
Serena Williams will aim to continue her strong campaign at the 2016 Australian Open when she meets world No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska in the semifinal round of the tournament. I know my practices are better.
Federer said he wasn’t surprised by the early blitz. Federer is considered to be a serious opponent to play against Djokovic.
Djokovic held three match points in the next game and he clinched it when Federer netted a backhand.
In the set’s ninth game, Serena stole a game to take a 5-4 lead. But the latter has since won four straight without dropping a set.
Every time the American has made the final at Melbourne Park she has gone on to win the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.
Kerber said she would need to play aggressively from the first point or Williams would hit a series of winners like she did against Radwanska, who appeared shell-shocked during their first games.
The first set was over in 22 minutes.
“I go home to see my parents, spend some time in my own bed”. She deserves credit for playing to her seeding here.
Soares will partner Jamie Murray in Saturday’s men’s doubles final against Daniel Nestor and Radek Stepanek.
The 28-year-old, buoyed by a new-found self-belief inspired by fellow German Steffi Graf, proved too hot to handle for Konta as she won 7-5, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.
Williams is 5-2 against first-time Grand Slam finalists in her career; the only losses were to Sharapova at Wimbledon in 2004 and Stosur at the 2011 US Open. ‘You can’t underestimate Kerber. Radwanska’s fastest serve in the first game topped out at 140kph.
“She goes on court and she just want to kill it. Going full power for everything”.
Williams then put on a serving masterclass in the last game. “She’s showed time and time again over the last numerous years”, Konta said of Kerber, as she prepares for the biggest match of her career.
Williams is the overwhelming favorite in her final against Kerber, and not just based on recent form.
“I think I played well, especially in the first set, I was able to do everything I needed to do and hitting all the right shots with little to no errors”, Williams said in her press conference. 1 and 3 in the next women’s rankings. The two haven’t played since the WTA Tour Finals 2013.
Jamie Murray and his brother Andy are two of three British players in the later stages of this year’s tournament.
Angelique Kerber checked her phone and confirms she received a text message from Steffi Graf ahead of the Australian Open final against Serena Williams on Saturday.
Williams has only ever lost once to a left-handed player at Grand Slam level: to Ekaterina Makarova in the fourth round of the 2012 Australian Open.
Now Kerber has the opportunity to join an elite group of slam victors as defending champion Williams bids to claim her 22nd.
Kerber and Konta play later Thursday, with whoever wins facing a huge obstacle to be crowned champion.
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The victor will face top-seeded and five-time champion Novak Djokovic in Sunday’s final.
