Australian Open: Serena beats Maria, again

“Going against Aga, you have to be ready or be ready to go home”, Williams said.

Considering she had not played since her semi-final loss at the hands of Italian Roberta Vinci in last year’s US Open 6-2, 4-6, 4-6 – the only time she has lost in her last ten matches – Williams is in incredible touch. The 34-year-old victor of 21 Grand Slams has already cemented her status as one of the all-time greats, if not the greatest.

Every time the American has made the final at Melbourne Park she has gone on to win the Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup.

Williams is now two victories from her 22nd Grand Slam singles title and a tie with Steffi Graf for the record in the Open era, which began in 1968. Despite dropping the opening set to Germany’s Anna-Lena Friedsam, Radwanska rallied for a 6-1 second set win before taking the third and final set 7-5.

Sharapova has won five majors, including the 2008 Australian title, and has been in three other finals at Melbourne Park.

In her fourth-round victory against No. 12 Belinda Bencic, she had a career-high 21 aces.

Sharapova was struggling with her serve and the double faults continued, but she crucially held from 0-40 down in the eighth game.

Sharapova broke to open the match and had a 2-0 lead. While she has been serving well here, with more than twice as many aces (52) as Serena (25), Fernandez says that difference is partly because many of Sharapova’s serves were against Lauren Davis, who is just 5-foot-1, a foot shorter than Sharapova, and doesn’t have as long a reach. But she returned really well on those deuce points.

“She started unbelievable, with such a power and speed”, Radwanska said. She cuts the ball early. It’s motivating because she’s at a different level and she makes you go back to the drawing board, not just for me but for many other players.

“Physically I’m feeling a lot better, mentally I needed that break after the Open”, Williams said, but “I didn’t think I would do this well this fast”.

“So I felt like I really committed myself, and I need to commit to myself and my body and take some time off, restart”.

British No 1 Jo Konta plays her last eight clash with China’s Zheng Shuai tomorrow.

“No, but that’s good”, she said.

And yet by playing below her best in a quarter-final against Sharapova, Williams delivered a timely reminder of her talent ahead of Saturday’s decider. “I was just standing there kind of watching her playing”, Radwanska added.

Is this the day that Maria Sharapova beats Serena Williams?

Williams is the overwhelming favorite in her final against Kerber, and not just based on recent form.

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. She makes you work.

Williams will now face fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, who was the first player to enter the semis.