Serena Williams has continued her domination of Maria Sharapova with a 6-4 6-1 victory in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
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In the first semifinal match, Kerber ended Sydney-born British player Johanna Konta’s surprising run with a 7-5, 6-2 win to reach her first Grand Slam final.
“Tomas has caused me a lot of problems over the years, but it’s been a pleasure playing against him”, said Federer.
The defending champions both made their way back to the Australian Open final, with Djokovic beating Federer 6-1, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 and Williams defeating Agnieszka Radwanska 6-0, 6-4 on Thursday.
Federer had been beaten by Berdych in their past two meetings at Grand Slams, but had won their past four matches. With Steffi Graf’s Open-era record of 22 major titles within sight at the Australian Open, and Margaret Court’s all-time mark of 24 on the horizon, she has no plans to hang up her racquet.
Sharapova has won five majors, including the 2008 Australian title, and has been in three other finals in Melbourne.
Sharapova’s work coming into the tournament had clearly been focused on her serve, which was much improved on the years when she was plagued by shoulder issues and which earned her 21 aces in her fourth round match on Sunday.
He came up with the big plays while facing break points in the first two sets, and only dropped serve in two exchanges of breaks in the third.
She went on a five-game roll until Sharapova held in the second set, and then finished it off in the seventh game after saving break points.
Sharapova was struggling with her serve and the double faults continued, but she crucially held from 0-40 down in the eighth game. She barely got a backhand return to a Williams serve then stood, with slumping shoulders, and watched as the 34-year-old put the overhead smash away. It cost her in the game she had three break-point chances in the eighth, taking the high-risk rather than the high-percentage option with her return.
“She a great defender and a great girl”, Williams said of Radwanska.
“I think if you’re serving maybe 180 (kph) against somebody else compared to Serena, that’s an ace”, said the 28-year-old. “I was really hitting just all the right shots, making little to no errors, which is kind of hard to play like that”.
It meant the five-time Grand Slam winner’s demoralising jinx against one of the greatest players ever remains intact. “I’m going to do my best, I have nothing to lose”, Williams said on Tuesday.
Despite all her success, it is a loss that is inspiring Williams in this tournament.
“In hindsight, that win (against top players) give me more confidence”, she told the press. “It’s been a stressful few days, but I’ll try to rest up the next few days to get ready for the next one”. She hurried through the first set against Radwanska in 20 minutes, winning all but seven points and allowing Radwanska just one victor while smacking 18 of her own.
Sharapova, meanwhile, paid tribute to her opponent, who is chasing a 22nd Grand Slam title.
Asked if she felt any duty to protect Graf’s record as a fellow German, Kerber said, while smiling: “I think so”.
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The Melbourne Park top seed, who next faces Agnieszka Radwanska, is proud to still be playing and at the top of her game.
