Williams romped through the first set in just 20 minutes before Radwanska showed some fight in the second, but she was unable to stop the momentum of the American, who clinched her place in the final in 64 minutes. A powerful mover and steady as can be from the baseline, she hasn’t lost a set since.
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“I think everything is stoppable at some point, I guess”, Williams said. “I was just standing there kind of watching her playing”. Radwanska recovered a break deficit to lead 4-3 but Williams won the final three games to book a spot in a 26th grand slam final. Radwanska had just one victor in the opening set _ a forehand cross-court shot in the fourth game.
Williams completely dominated the winners’ count 42-4 against Radwanska, whose record against the American now sits at a sorry 0-9. A wrong-footing smash and return winners off each wing catapulted Williams to an immediate break of serve.
Williams missed out on a 22nd title at the US Open past year after winning all three other Grand Slams in 20015, the Australian and French Opens and Wimbledon. She has beaten Williams once before in six tries, in the summer of 2012.
“I definitely block it out”, Williams said.
“I don’t think anyone’s style is good when Serena’s playing like that”, Radwanska said.
Murray beat David Ferrer 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-2, 6-3 to reach his 18th Grand Slam semifinal.
Kerber goes into the final as the clear underdog against Williams, who won five of their previous six encounters.
Murray and a much lesser-known British player, Konta, advanced to the semifinals.
Kerber is fortunate to be here. “We always get along”, she said. “I was just trying to give everything today on court”.
“But great experience, great two weeks”.
Serena Williams, left, of the United States is congratulated by Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland after winning their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016.
“I think she started unbelievable, with such a power and speed”. “Just said to myself, ‘I need to figure something out, ‘ and I started playing aggressive like I had all week”.
But those questions were answered fast. She’s played the German 6 times in the past, beating her 5 of those times, however, and looks on course to take her 7th Australian Open title in the women’s singles.
“I’m going to be ready and whatever happens, happens”. I worked really hard. “That’s a long time”.
Still dealing with the loss of her sister, Williams took more than a year away from the game.
“She was just telling me that I’m on a good way”, Kerber said. “I know that she brings a lot to the game”.
“I’ve never played Konta but Angelique I’ve played her a few times”.
The 27-year-old Zhang entered the Australian Open with a 0-14 record in Grand Slam singles matches.
The first set resulted in No. 4 seed’s first bagel since Belinda Bencic inflicted one during the final at Eastbourne last June.
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Still, Kerber concedes she will be a heavy underdog when she meets Williams on Saturday night.
