Williams reaches 7th Australian Open final in dominant form

Novak Djokovic of Serbia plays a backhand return to Roger Federer of Switzerland during their semifinal match at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016.

Six-time champion Serena Williams has taken the first set 6-0 in her Australian Open singles semifinal against Agnieszka Radwanska.

Before the tournament began, Williams, a six-time Aussie Open champ, insisted her disappointing effort at last year’s US Open semifinals, where she was stunned by the unranked Vinci, would not carry over into the new season. It allowed her to refresh and she’s been so dominant at the Australian Open this year, she’s reached the final without losing a set – something she’s never achieved in 15 previous appearances.

Next up for Williams is a date with No. 7 Angelique Kerber of Germany and a shot at matching Steffi Graf’s Open era record of 22 Grand Slam titles.

“Physically I’m feeling a lot better, mentally I needed that break after the US Open and now I just feel so good, it’s great, I didn’t think I’d do so well so fast”. However, the WTA’s world No. 1 understands she still needs to win her next match against Radwanska in the semifinal stage of the tournament.

The second set was more of a case of one-way traffic, with Kerber only committing 11 unforced errors throughout the match.

But after causing a major boilover by ousting Venus Williams in the opening round, she rolled all the way to semis before coming up short against Kerber.

Williams said the Russian brings out the best in her.

Sharapova has not beaten Williams since 2004 and has now lost 19 of their 21 match-ups overall as the American strolled to a 6-4, 6-1 win on Rod Laver Arena.

The first set was over in 22 minutes.

She will now face the victor of the other semi-final, between German 7th seed Angelique Kerber and unseeded British ace Johanna Konta, the latter of whom she has never played before.

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. I don’t really think about that.

“She started unbelievable, with such a power and speed”, Radwanska said.

“Nothing’s guaranteed in sports; I still have to win two matches against potentially two extremely tough opponents”, Williams said, reports the New York Times. Radwanska recovered a break deficit to lead 4-3 but Williams won the final three games to book a spot in a 26th grand slam final. But she taught me actually that I’m on a good way and to try to believe in myself.

Williams romped through the first set in just 20 minutes before Radwanska showed some fight in the second.

Radwanska beat No. 10 Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1, 6-3 to reach a Grand Slam semifinal for the fifth time.

Asked the last time she played such a flawless set, Williams added: “Probably my second-round match [against Hsieh Su-wei]”.

“She won everything, she’s a great person, as well”.

The American has now won 16 consecutive sets against five-time Grand Slam victor Sharapova – and came within a game of a humiliating second-set bagel on Tuesday.