Maria Sharapova turns up the decibels against Serena

But the repeat of last year’s final proved yet another mismatch as defending champion Williams won 6-4 6-1, despite suffering from food poisoning.

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.

“She’s (Sharapova) an incredibly intense, focused player who was No. 1 and won so many Grand Slams for a reason”.

“When you’re playing someone like that who is so great you have to play with fire and intensity”.

Williams remained unbeaten in nine matches against Radwanska, whom she beat in the 2012 Wimbledon final. “I have nothing to lose in the final”, said Kerber.

“I feel I am playing the best I can – I can’t believe I am through to the final after taking so much time off”, she said.

“I was aggressive, had some variety in there”. What ever happens I’m happy to come out to play another final. Serena looks to win her seventh Australian Open title.

A victor of 21 Grand Slam singles titles, Williams is exceptionally tough to beat at this stage of a major. It’s not a statistic she was aware of, but one she didn’t mind.

Williams is the overwhelming favourite in the final, and not just based on recent form.

Obviously, Williams is all about keeping a steady head on her shoulders, never letting her wins make her complacent. Against Williams, she had three, and seven double-faults.

“I think she started unbelievable, with such a power and speed”. “She’s very explosive. She stays quite close to the baseline”.

A net cord prevented Sharapova from sealing the hold and a lengthy game ensued in which Williams carved out four set points. Djokovic broke Federer in the eighth game to go up 5-3 – not even a stunning down-the-line shot after he earlier chased down a lob on the same point could save the Swiss star. As it got longer, the rallies got longer, the shrieks and grunts got louder and the emotions were fully on display.

Serena is 8-0 all-time against Radwanska, but the two haven’t played since 2013.

“There is something about her game”.

She did just that, attacking the serve of Sharapova, the 2008 champion and four-time finalist in Australia. Serena is getting at least 52 percent of her first serves in play and is winning no less than 73 percent of those points.

The 26-year-old Radwanska lost the first set in just 20 minutes on Rod Laver Arena before she got some momentum back in the second set but was unable to stop Williams’ march to her seventh final at Melbourne Park.

Williams raced to a 5-0 lead in the second set and eased to victory. “She’s showed time and time again over the last numerous years”, Konta said. But Williams refused to back down on a steaming hot day in Melbourne.

Sharapova said she was inspired as well as frustrated after her latest defeat. “She makes you go back to the drawing board, not just for me, but for many other players”, she explained. “She doesn’t give you many angles”.

The 34-year-old then made a fast start to the opening-set tie-break and was in control from then on, breaking twice in the second set and making the decisive move at 4-4 in the third.