Australian Open: Serena cruises to final

Johanna Konta of Britain plays a forehand return to Angelique Kerber of Germany during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016.

Konta is playing in her first Australian Open main draw, after losing in qualifying rounds three years in a row.

For Konta it is a well earned rest and a trip home – that’s Eastbourne, and not some Sydney suburb – and she is still planning on playing Fed Cup for Great Britain in their latest zonal challenge, assuming physically her body holds up.

The 24-year-old was attempting to become the first female British grand slam finalist since Virginia Wade won Wimbledon 39 years ago.

Now on the brink of matching Graf again, Williams is desperate to keep focus. “I wasn’t thinking too much about the score”, said Kerber. I want to be a better player overall – I want to be better physically; I want to play better; I want to be stronger. I was so stressed out.

“That is me living my dream”.

Johanna Konta will not be able to keep up with Kerber which will see the German go through to final and have a chance at winning her first career grand slam title.

The form of the American, who won 6-0 6-4 and is yet to drop a set so far, has fed the suspicion she is unstoppable in Saturday’s final. I think it would be silly for that to change.

“She (Kerber) took out a really tough opponent in Victoria (Azarenka)”. “You can’t underestimate Kerber”.

“I’m really looking forward to taking this challenge”.

“Her being a lefty definitely helps out as well. Every aspect of my game I have to work on”. I said “Just go for it and beat her”. Kerber avenged that loss against Vika, beating her for the first time in the quarterfinals here on Wednesday.

Murray appeared to grab his left hamstring in pain during the second set but the world number two suggested it was an issue of fatigue rather than any muscular injury.

“There was just no mistake. I’m just going to go out there and bring to the court what I can”.

It was a huge upset for the German, who had lost all six previous encounters with Azarenka, including in the final of the Brisbane International this month and an epic three-hour marathon at last year’s US Open. Despite this, it took her six set points to finally beat Zhang, who stretched her to 6-4 in that set.

“I don’t feel very different”, Konta said.

“It’s a really special moment”, an overjoyed Kerber said in her on-court interview.

“I just saw that”.

“I must play my best tennis against her. I have nothing to lose and will give it everything and hopefully play good”.

In announcing the review, ATP chairman Chris Kermode said the reports had “caused damage to the sport”, which compelled the major stakeholders in tennis – the International Tennis Federation, ATP and WTA tours, and the four Grand Slams – to take quick action to address the issue. Does she feel the pressure?

“I don’t think I missed an opportunity”.