Play is under way at the Australian Open on Thursday, with a men’s doubles match involving Andy Murray’s older brother Jamie providing a prelude to the women’s singles semifinals.
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It followed world no. 1 Williams’ powerful display in a 6-0 6-4 win over fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska. She’ll play each Angelique Kerber of Germany or surprise first time semifinalist Johanna Konta of Great Britain, who play in the second semifinal.
The 28-year-old, buoyed by a new-found self-belief inspired by fellow German Steffi Graf, proved too hot to handle for Konta as she won 7-5, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.
After her win at the WTA Finals in October and a title in Shenzhen at the beginning of the month, Radwanska came into the tournament ranked No. 4.
In the first men’s semifinal, one-seed Novak Djokovic clashed with three-seed Roger Federer. Unforced errors proved to be the key stat in the match: Konta finished with 36 while her opponent had a cleaner game, finishing with just 11 unforced errors. “If I don’t win on Saturday, I’ll still be one off”.
Game, set, match. @Serenawilliams defeats #Radwanska 6-0 6-4.
“Semi-final of a grand slam isn’t a bad thing”. Now I’m in the finals here.
“I just feel like I’m playing the best I can and I can’t believe I’m in the final!”
Making the semis was still a good result for Radwanska, who had done so just three other times in her career – at Wimbledon in 2013 and 2015, and here in Melbourne in 2014. I know that she brings a lot, you know, to the game.
“I’m really looking forward to taking this challenge”.
Kerber said she would need to come out firing on Saturday to match the reigning champion.
RAONIC ON MURRAY: “As much as I look back on it, even before I went on court today, I was paying attention to what he was doing”.
Prediction: Kerber has impressed hugely in two very different matches in the quarterfinals and semifinals, providing some confidence that she can handle the pressure of playing on her biggest stage to date. After a tough opening frame against Konta, she pulled away with her flat, overpowering groundstrokes.
Such has been her domination that Williams, who has won four of the last five majors, described her performance in Melbourne as “the best slam I’ve played in a year”.
“I don’t think anyone can really play on that kind of level at all”.
Graf was the last German player to win the women’s title in Australia, in 1994, and Kerber is asking for some advice. The early rounds had done little to dissuade that view, neither did Azarenka’s 6-0 head-to-head record against Kerber going into their last-eight contest. “I’m really excited to be in another final”.
“I think from then on out I’ve been really focused that she’s someone that I really, you know, and everyone, has to take very serious”.
“I was trying to give everything on court today”.
She said: I think she will have respect.
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Sensing victory, she made no mistakes to serve for the match and become the first left-hander to make the final since Seles in 1996.
