The six-time Australian Open champion, Serena Williams attacked Maria Sharapova’s strength with full force to beat her 6-4, 6-1 in the quarterfinals on Tuesday.
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“I still approach every match exactly the same”, she said.
“When I play her, I know automatically I have to step up my game”, Williams said.
Sharapova has not only failed to beat Williams in recent years she has struggled even to stretch her, winning only three sets during the 18-match losing streak.
Her three major wins a year ago, at the Australian and French Opens and Wimbledon, left her only one short on 21.
The Czech had beaten Federer in their last two meetings at Grand Slams but was unable to extend that record as he fell to a 7-6, 6-2, 6-4 loss, with Federer now due to meet Djokovic for the 45th time in his career. “I was one off a year ago, too!”
Williams and Djokovic are still rolling heading into the semifinals of the Australian Open. Despite remaining an invincible force, the driven American said she had learned to relax and was enjoying her tennis greatly now that the clock was ticking on her career. “I don’t think anyone (else) can really play on that level”. Maria must be wondering just how many more titles she may have won over the years, if it was not for the pure class and sheer dominance of Serena over the past few years.
“I’m really looking forward to taking this challenge and I must play my best tennis”. “I’ve done everything… I didn’t think I would have done as well as I have”, the world No1 said.
It was the worst possible opening for Radwanska, with Williams, the oldest world number one in WTA history, breaking and then using her huge power advantage to easily hold serve and go 2-0 clear.
Mirza found herself on the opposite side of the net from Hingis, her partner on Friday in the women’s doubles final. Physically I’m feeling better than previous year but mentally I need a break after the US Open. He hasn’t gone past the semifinals at Melbourne Park since winning the title in 2010, but he’s a serious obstacle for Djokovic.
Despite losing her flawless start to the 2016 season having won at Shenzhen before the Australian Open, Radwanska said she could still take positives out of the tournament, given she felt nobody could have stayed with Williams on Thursday.
Williams has played Radwanska eight times-and never lost.
He’s now the oldest man since 1979 (Colin Dibley) to reach the Australian Open semis, where he’ll play either five-time champion Novak Djokovic or No. 7 Kei Nishikori.
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But Radwanska won a game to start off the second set and finally began to offer some form of resistance.
