On the way, she knocked out Venus Williams and last year’s semi-finalist Ekaterina Makarova, so she was philosophical about her 7-5 6-2 loss to German seventh seed Kerber at Rod Laver Arena.
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Williams withdrew from the last four months of 2015 after she was bundled out of the U.S. Open in the semi-finals by Italy’s Roberta Vinci, ending her hopes of emulating Steffi Graf’s calendar grand slam in 1988.
Serena Williams is one win away from another Grand Slam milestone after beating Agnieszka Radwanska 6-0, 6-4 in an Australian Open semifinal that was nearly a noncontest between the players who will be Nos.
Radwanska finally got off the mark in the opening game of the second set when Williams netted a backhand from the baseline, to huge applause from the crowd.
The world No. 47 is likely to settle inside the world’s top 30 players, making her a genuine prospect to be seeded at her home slam, Wimbledon.
“I really enjoyed the battles”, she said. That’s pretty good for a 34-year-old!
Radwanska, ranked fourth in the world, is no stranger to the top level of women’s tennis but she was made to look a minnow by Williams, who looks ominously back to her very best.
“She is a tough opponent and will win many, many tournaments in the future for sure”.
“I think I’m playing better”.
Serena is now just one win from a 7th Australian Open title and more importantly, a 22nd career Grand Slam which would tie her with Steffi Graf for most in the Open Era.
The 28-year-old Kerber is the first German woman to reach the final since Anke Huber contested the 1996 Australian Open title match.
Konta emerged from the defeat saying she felt proud, carrying the positive energy and composure she had displayed on court into her post-match news conference.
“But I definitely walk away from a place like this and say, “I want to come back next year”. She was playing unbelievably good”.
Radwanska’s serve was like shooting practice for the American, particularly given her first serve sat at a lowly 50 per cent in the first set, which Williams sealed to love in just 20 minutes.
The Serbian prevailed 6-1 6-2 3-6 6-3 in an enthralling semi-final. “I had my little chance in second set, especially when it was 4-all”.
“I was just standing there kind of watching her play”, the fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska said after her 6-0, 6-4 drubbing by Williams on Thursday.
Serving for the match, Williams served three straight aces, before closing it out with a forehand victor. “I think she sent me a text message, but I don’t know what she wrote yet”.
Williams began in ominous fashion breaking the Pole’s serve in the first game with Radwanska’s lack of power highlighted by the blistering nature of the American’s returns.
But we’ll see. I think if I do play her, it will be a really good match.
Staying lower to the ball and extending through her shots, Konta began swinging more freely.
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“I’m really excited to be in another final”.
