Australian Open 2016: Serena Williams’ serve my biggest challenge, Angelique Kerber says

Top-seeded Serena Williams of the United States advanced to the Australian Open semifinals on Tuesday by continuing her dominance over fifth-seeded Maria Sharapova of Russian Federation with a 6-4, 6-1 victory.

Kerber has lost her last four meetings with Williams, all in straight sets, but she did beat the American 6-4 6-4 at Cincinnati in 2012.

After a day off yesterday, Serena was on first and she came out swinging against Agnieszka Radwanska, jumping out to a 7-0 lead before the World No. 4 got her teeth into the match.

The chirping intensified as Williams served in the sixth game of the second set, and she looked up angrily after her off-balance forehand from the baseline conceding her only service break of the match.

“I just really wanted to focus on when I first walk out there to be ready to go from the first point, then that way I don’t necessarily have to play from behind”, she said, before adding for emphasis, “which I can do clearly, and I proved that a year ago”.

The first set seemed destined for a tiebreak after Konta recovered from going 4-0 down, until a string of errors from the Briton allowed Kerber to surge ahead for a second time and take the opening set.

Konta’s spectacular run was put to a stop when she went down easily in two straight sets 5-7, 2-6 in the Rod Laver Arena.

With Sharapova again swatted aside, the 34-year-old Williams, gunning to match Steffi Graf’s Open-era Grand Slam record of 22 titles, now has the composed Pole in her sights.

Williams needed just 20 minutes to claim the first set with the roof closed due to rain – an opener in which she conceded a mere eight points.

Serena Williams will aim to continue her strong campaign at the 2016 Australian Open when she meets world No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska in the semifinal round of the tournament.

Angelique Kerber credited German great Steffi Graf with giving her the belief that she can win big matches after upsetting Victoria Azarenka at the Australian Open. “I know that she brings a lot to the game”.

“It’s a really special moment, I’ve reached the finals for the first time”, said Kerber.

“I was able to practice with her for a few days just before Indian Wells a year ago”.

Serena Williams headlines the women’s semifinals at the Australian Open on Thursday afternoon, a heavy favorite in a remaining field of surprises.

“I think everything is stoppable at some point, I guess”, Williams said.

Both Sharapova and Radwanska said afterwards they felt that Williams was playing at a level above everyone else.

On the men’s side, Roger Federer kept his hopes of another grand slam success alive, setting up a potential semi-final with tournament favourite Novak Djokovicl.

She said: “I’m going to go and take care of my forearm first. But even if I don’t win, I really can take away that I’ve been really consistent, and I want to continue that”. “It was good conditions to play in”.