Consecutive Victory for Serena?

“You have to come out with a lot of fire and intensity”. Third-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland beat sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, 7-6, 6-2, 6-4.

Afterward, the 21-time Grand Slam singles champion tried to explain why she’s been so successful against such a risky foe, as noted by Christopher Clarey of the New York Times.

“Well, it’s obviously always frustrating”, she said, after Williams destroyed her 6-4, 6-1 in the Australian quarterfinals on Rod Laver Arena, finding it hard to talk about another defeat.

Wawrinka was the only man to beat top-ranked Novak Djokovic in a Grand Slam match a year ago – the French Open final – and the last man to beat him at Melbourne Park since 2010. She eventually walked away with a 6-4, 6-1 win.

Serena Williams has defeated Maria Sharapova to enter the semifinals of the ongoing Australian Open held in Melbourne.

But the tournament’s No. 1 seed completely overpowered her with 31 winners and 13 aces en route to the comfortable victory. Then, serving to stay in the set at 4-5, Serena and Maria played a 14-point, four-deuce game that included Sharapova saving three set points but failing to convert a game point that would have evened the match.

Sharapova came out firing to start, taking an early 2-0 lead on Australia Day.

She was able to protect her own serve, and go on the attack against Sharapova’s. I got myself into the quarter-final of a Grand Slam.

Her grip on the title looks unlikely to be threatened in the semi-finals by Agnieszka Radwanska, who has lost all eight of her matches against Williams.

She is 34 years of age, and within days of beginning the defence of her title, she was again favourite to equal the Grand Slam record of 22 held by Steffi Graf. “I do feel really good at net since a few years now”, Federer said. Admittedly fried both mentally and physically, Williams then took four months off. When she returned in Melbourne, Williams retired from her first match at the Hopman Cup, citing knee inflammation, and eventually pulled out of the event.

“When I play her, I know automatically I have to step up my game”, said Williams, a 21-time major victor.

An agitated Andy Murray, meanwhile, yelled and berated himself repeatedly and had trouble dealing with Bernard Tomic’s unusual style before advancing to the quarterfinals with a scrappy 6-4, 6-4, 7-6 (4) win late on Monday.

Russian Sharapova broke the world number one in the first game and mounted a stiff challenge in the opening set but wilted in the second to extend a losing record against Williams that goes back 12 years. Get the ball back, hit a few first serves and Sharapova would take care of the rest. “As the day went on and I chose to play, I started to focus a little better”. Maybe. Such as when Serena is old and gray and sitting in a rocking chair on her front porch shouting at Maria to get off her grass. Something about her game.

Serena showed what she was made off as she fought back to bring the score level at 4-4.

“I think this tournament in particular I’ve been trying to do different things and I’ve been having a lot of fun on the court”, she said.

The post Tennis: Djokovic, Federer on course for Australian Open semifinal meeting; Serena Williams continues to dominate Sharapova appeared first on Chronicle-Telegram.

“I think today was more (about) my game”.