The imposing American top seed appears invincible after crushing long-time rival Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals as she steps up her quest to match Steffi Graf s Open-era Grand Slam record of 22 titles.
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Williams has taken plenty from her experience at Flushing Meadows previous year, when she was expected to complete the grand slam before a shocking loss to Roberta Vinci in the last four.
Williams cleaned up the first set in just 20 minutes before Radwanska elicited the largest cheer of the match at that time when she held serve in the first game of the second set. Williams seemed to nearly let Radwanska back into the match early in the second set, but buckled down, got the break, and cruised to the final and improved her career record against Poland’s best player to 9-0.
The only obstacle for No. 1-ranked Williams is Angelique Kerber, a 28-year-old German who is seeking Graf’s advice on how to win the biggest match of her life.
“Nothing to lose means I can go out there and try to play like I’m playing, without pressure, without nothing”, she said. I think she will go out there and she know that she must play also good tennis to beat me.
Kerber ousted pre-tournament favorite and former No. 1 Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals, while Konta began her tournament with a stunning win over Serena’s sister, No. 8 seed Venus Williams, in the first round.
“I’m really excited to be in the final – it just kind of blows my mind right now”. “They are always behind you when it was not so good”, Kerber said.
“So I’m going to hopefully take that to the court for not only this tournament but for the rest of these Slams (in 2016)”.
The sting of that defeat, coupled with the ensuing four-month break from competitive tennis, led to some skepticism about her chances of capturing a seventh Daphne Akhurst Cup.
But the left-hander is desperate to attack Williams, who hit 18 first-set winners in a scintillating victory over Agnieszka Radwanska in the semifinals.
“It took me forever to get to 18”. I know my practices are better. If there is plenty of scope to bring more subtlety into Konta’s game – her volleying can improve and she lacks the creative touch of a player like Radwanska – her physical attributes are major compensations.
It now comes down to one match against Germany’s Angelique Kerber. “I have nothing to lose”.
“I definitely think that could make a difference”, Williams said.
“I needed time off just to take a minute and just chill and re-heal, get ready”, she said after the 64-minute battering of the Pole.
In Sunday’s final here, against the victor of today’s meeting between Andy Murray and Milos Raonic, Djokovic will be attempting to win the Australian Open for the sixth time in nine years.
It’s been a familiar feeling among the players Williams has brushed aside on the way to the final, her seventh at Melbourne Park. I think she started unbelievable, with such a power and speed.
Williams was perhaps a little more downbeat in her press conference. I’m fit. I will try to win against her. That’s for sure.
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“I had a lot of challenges here also in this tournament where I was really nervous”, Kerber said.
