Australian Open: Serena Williams destroys Maria Sharapova to reach semis

Agnieszka Radwanska (x4) bt Carla Suarez Navarro (x10) 6-1, 6-3.

Williams is 8-0 against Radwanska, including their meeting in the 2012 Wimbledon final. After seven minutes, Federer was trailing 3-0. A powerful mover and steady as can be from the baseline, she hasn’t lost a set since.

The Russian had opportunities, most notably with two break points at the end of the first set, but Williams delivered at the decisive moment and it was one-way traffic thereafter.

Asked about the crowd support for Federer, Djokovic displayed Swiss-like diplomacy.

“I must be there from the first point and playing very deep”. “He’s been playing on a very high level at this tournament and he dropped only one set”.

“Playing someone like that you have to play with fire and intensity”.

Federer said he wasn’t surprised by Djokovic’s early blitz. She got herself back in the points. “Each time I come back… and step on Rod Laver Arena I have this attractive memory”.

Radwanska was expected to provide a significant challenge but she was no match for six-time Australian Open victor Williams, who advanced to a seventh final in Melbourne.

The American champ now goes into her seventh Australian Open final.

The world number one’s exploits come after a knee injury restricted her to just over a set of tennis at the Hopman Cup earlier in January.

“I definitely block it out”, Williams replied to a question about equaling Graf’s mark.

They have played eight times since 2008 and Agnieszka has lost the lot, taking just one set along the way.

Williams, 34, has a 5-1 win record against Kerber and vastly more big match experience, but she is not underestimating the threat she faces.

Up 4-3, Radwanska was sparking hopes of a comeback but no sooner had she dared to think it than Williams cranked up the pressure again.

Kerber ended Sydney-born British player Johanna Konta’s surprising run with a 7-5, 6-2 semifinal win to reach her first Grand Slam final.

Kerber was solid throughout and did what she needed to do, profiting from a raft of unforced errors from Konta, who too often went for too much.

The top seed hit 18 winners in the opening six games and her second serve was averaging a higher speed than Radwanska’s first. Really showing she wants to win it. She’s doing everything right. “I must play my best tennis to have a chance”. “When I was serving, everything is just going to your side with that kind of power, so deep that you can not do anything”.

She crushed long-time rival Maria Sharapova in the quarter-finals and dished out the same treatment to Radwanska, halting her 13-match win streak in emphatic fashion.

“It’s obviously always frustrating, but it’s motivating, Sharapova said”.

“She was just telling me that I’m on a good way”, Kerber said.