Considering she had not played since her semi-final loss at the hands of Italian Roberta Vinci in last year’s US Open 6-2, 4-6, 4-6 – the only time she has lost in her last ten matches – Williams is in incredible touch.
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Dismissing the idea that this might be her 16th and final appearance at the year’s first grand slam – “Hopefully not, unless you know something I don’t” she said – Williams spoke of a different approach to her tennis this year. “She was world number one and has won so many Grand Slams for a reason”.
“When you’re playing someone like that… you have to come out with a lot of fire and intensity”, Williams said courtside. Facing the sixth seeded Tomas Berdych in the quarter-finals, FedEx shook off a hard first set (7-6) to comfortably win the next two 6-2 6-4.
Nobody doubted Williams’ status as title favourite before she thumped Maria Sharapova 6-4 6-1 on Tuesday, advancing to a semi-final against Agnieszka Radwanska on Thursday.
Serena Williams hasn’t lost a match against Maria Sharapova in nearly 12 years.
Each of the six previous times she has done it at Melbourne Park, she has won the title.
Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska has beaten Spain’s number 10 seed Carla Suarez Navarro to seal the first place in the semi-finals of the women’s singles at the Australian Open.
When the draw came out before the tournament, everyone wondered if No. 5 Maria Sharapova would land in No. 1 Serena Williams’s quarter due to her rankings drop.
The second set was much easier as Sharapova crumbled – the 2008 champion’s serve was broken straight away, and again to trail 0-5 before she finally held.
“When I play her, I know automatically I have to step up my game”, Williams said.
Sharapova was wilting and the double fault count was rising with Williams taking another break to lead 4-0.
The American held to love to open the second set and broke for 2-0 with a wrong-footing backhand victor down the line.
The next game saw the Russian push Serena onto the backfoot, as she pressed for the break, but the American held on after saving two break points. Williams loves returning shots with pace and she has no trouble with Sharapova’s serve.
“I was a little lethargic (in the first set) I just started slow”. Djokovic played four hours and 32 minutes, but the five-time Grand Slam champion is confident he will be physically ready against Nishikori.
“Everything from here on out, every match, is a bonus for me”.
“I just can’t believe something like that happened a few days ago”.
Williams has now 14 consecutive sets in their matches. “She doesn’t give you many angles”.
“It’s Roger. It’s always going to be a huge challenge playing him”, said Berdych.
Sharapova, with their history, needed a bit of luck on her side but didn’t get it.
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“She’s been playing really well towards the end of the year, and already this year she’s been very consistent”, Williams said of the Pole, a friend off court. However, Williams then showed her the power of her resolve, fighting back to level the scores at 4-4.
