Serena Williams of the United States celebrates after defeating Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016.
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Defending mixed doubles champions Martina Hingis and Leander Paes are out of the Australian Open in the quarterfinals, beaten 7-6 (1), 6-3 by the top-seeded team of Sania Mirza of India and Croatia’s Ivan Dodig.
Konta, the first British woman to reach a Grand Slam semifinal since Jo Durie at the 1983 U.S. Open, will play Angelique Kerber, who beat two-time champion Victoria Azarenka 6-3, 7-5.
Williams is the overwhelming favorite, and not just based on recent form.
Contesting her third slam semi-final, Kerber finally advanced to a major decider after ending Konta’s fairytale run at the Australian Open.
“I was one off a year ago, too!”
To be fair to Mouratoglou, the Frenchman did add of the crafty Radwanska: “I like her. She’s a super nice person”.
“She goes on court and she just wants to kill it”, Radwanska told reporters after her 64-minute loss at the hands of the world number one.
The 28-year-old left-hander, buoyed by a new-found self-belief inspired by fellow German Steffi Graf, will play her first Grand Slam final on her 33rd attempt, marking the first time a German has got so far at Melbourne Park since 1996.
“I feel I’m playing the best I can and I can’t believe I’m in the final”. “I will go out there, try to enjoy my first final, try to beat Serena”, Kerber said.
Graf was the last German player to win the women’s title in Australia, in 1994, and Kerber is asking for some advice.
“Steffi, write me please!” Giorgi – the highest ranked unseeded player in the draw – loomed as a tricky opponent and kept up with Williams in the second set before faltering late.
She has won 39 of her last 40 Grand Slam matches across six major tournaments.
Williams put on a masterclass as she routed Radwanska to win through to yet another decider. “You can’t underestimate Kerber”, Williams said. “She’s beaten me before, too, and pretty good”. You know, I think she will have respect.
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. “It blows my mind right now”, said, the 34-year old in a courtside interview. “I mean, I never thought I was going to go out and lose in the first round, but at the same time, I never thought before, I’m going to make it to the final or anything”.
“But I wanted to prove that I can play also ahead this year”.
“She started unbelievable, with such power and speed”, Radwanska told reporters. “Just said to myself, ‘I need to figure something out, ‘ and I started playing aggressive like I had all week”.
With the roof closed on Rod Laver Arena because of rain showers in the area, Williams broke Radwanska’s service to open the match and was rarely troubled in the 21-minute first set.
Radwanska stole a march in the second set, and managed successfully to break Williams in the second set, and leading her 4-3 at one point, looked as though she could give Williams somewhat of a challenge, even possibly take it to a deciding set.
Jamie Murray and Brazil’s Bruno Soares are through to the men’s doubles final at the Australian Open after a 6-3, 6-1 win over the French team of Adrian Mannarino and Lucas Pouille.
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