Serena Demolishes Radwanska to Reach Seventh Australian Open Final

Thursday’s two women’s semifinals at the Australian Open could hardly be more different. “The semifinal of a Grand Slam isn’t a bad thing”, she said.

The world No. 1 faces either seventh seed Angelique Kerber of Germany or the unseeded Johanna Konta in Saturday’s finale.

“Mentally I needed that break after the U.S. Open”.

Kerber used that newfound confidence to stem the rising tide of Konta, who was chasing British tennis history in her bid to become the country’s first Grand Slam finalist since 1977. Plus, Williams’ record playing Radwanska is 8-0. “I’m really excited just to be in the final; I can’t say that I though I would have been in this final after taking so much time off. Either way, I’ll be excited”. “[It] does feel really good”.

“I’m going to be ready and whatever happens, happens”.

Graf, now married to Andre Agassi, was one of the greatest players of all time.

This is the 45th time the players have met, and they’ve each won 22 times.

“I think so”, Kerber said.

“I think I showed everybody that I’m a top player”.

“This has been the first Grand Slam that I won back in 2008”, Djokovic said. It took her another 10 to secure the set.

Kerber and Williams will play the Australian Open Women’s single final on Saturday.

Williams hasn’t played a left-hander so far this tournament and said that, combined with Kerber’s quarterfinal win over two-time champion Victoria Azarenka, were making her wary.

Williams warned the media not to underestimate Kerber, noting she will be the first lefty Williams will have faced in this tournament.

But Williams, 34, held off her opponent’s charge.

A former World No.2, Radwanska pulled up more soundly in the second set, levelling proceedings at 3-3 after falling behind an early break. Just add that into the mix, guys. But similarly to Sharapova, Radwanska has struggled to overcome Williams during their past eight meetings, although this will mark their first match since 2013 and also their first encounter at the Australian Open.

“It has been hard on the Australian Open, no question about it”, Kermode said.

By the time her press conference had come around an hour later, it appeared the seven-time Wimbledon champion had delivered.

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. That’s why she is the victor and I’m not today. “I know it will be not easy”. I didn’t think I would have done as well as I have. “She really showing she wants to win it”, she said. “I went out there with a very clear mindset of just trying to compete to the best of my ability against the opponent that I had on the other side of the court”.

The Tennis Channel will provide coverage from 7 p.m.to 9:30 p.m., before ESPN2 takes over.