Williams is the overwhelming favorite, and not just based on recent form. “I was one off past year, too”. If I don’t win on Saturday, I’ll still be one off. It took me forever to get to 18 (and draw level with Martina Navratilova and Chris Evert).
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Williams, 34, appeared to struggle with her ball toss in the morning sunshine on Rod Laver Arena as she fell 2-0 down.
An imperious Serena Williams set up a crack at her seventh Australian Open title on Thursday by trampling Agnieszka Radwanska, with only Angelique Kerber now capable of stopping her equalling Steffi Graf’s Open-era record of 22 grand slam triumphs.
“Tomas has caused me a lot of problems over the years, but it’s been a pleasure playing against him”, said Federer.
“I’m really excited to be in the final – it just kind of blows my mind right now”.
Meanwhile, No. 4 seed Radwanska continues her unbeaten start at the first Grand Slam event of the year after getting past Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1 6-3.
Djokovic’s mark is nearly as good – he’s 5-0 in semifinals, and in finals, in the season’s first major. “It will be a good match”, said Williams, the defending champion.
Graf was the last German player to win the women’s title in Australia, in 1994, and Kerber is asking for some advice.
“Maria is a super-intense player”.
In her fourth-round victory against No. 12 Belinda Bencic, the fifth-seeded Sharapova had a career-high 21 aces.
Sharapova won more sets against her nemesis in three matches in 2004 (four) than in their 18 meetings since (three).
“She (Kerber) took out a really tough opponent in Victoria (Azarenka). You can’t underestimate Kerber”, Williams said.
Confirming she’s interested in competing for Poland at the upcoming Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, Radwanska will be confident knowing she’s playing near-career best tennis.
Williams clinched the first set against Radwanska in a breathtaking 20 minutes and she revealed that a strong start was her focus.
Williams has played Radwanska eight times-and never lost. Against Williams, she had three, and seven double-faults.
“She’s at a different level”, Sharapova said. “Personally, I didn’t think I’d be playing at this age”. Unbelievable serve. Everything, she was going for it. Yeah, I couldn’t do much.
“I will just go back, keep working hard, keep improving the things that I want to improve and keep enjoying what I’m doing”.
She set her stall out in the very first point as she thundered back Radwanska’s first serve before two more booming returns sealed an early break.
There was a late rally as Sharapova held and then had two break points at 5-1, but the comeback lasted only a moment, as a crashing Williams forehand sealed progress in an hour and 32 minutes.
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Kerber will have a semifinal clash against British Johanna Konta, who ended China’s Zhang Shuai’s Australian Open dream run after a 6-4 6-1 victory.
