World’s No 1 women tennis player, Serena Williams was a show-stopper in Melbourne on Thursday as she beat Polish fourth seed, Agnieszka Radwanska 6-0, 6-4 in just 64 minutes to reach the final of the Australian Open.
The victory means she will square up against German Angelique Kerber on Saturday in her 26th career Grand Slam final and possible 22nd Grand Slam singles title, which would equal Steffi Graf’s Open Era record.
“I’m really excited to be in another final. It just kind of blows my mind right now. I just feel like I’m playing the best I can and I can’t believe I’m in the final”, the 34 years old superstar enthused.
Radwanska had come into the semi-final on a 13-match win streak which stretched back to her WTA Finals success at the end of last season. But she could only win seven points in the first set as Williams made a stunning start, racing to the opening set in just 21 minutes and hitting 18 winners to Radwanska’s one.
There was a big cheer from the Rod Laver Arena crowd as Radwanska prevented the dreaded double bagel by holding her serve in the first game of the second set.
Although Radwanska put up some resistance towards the end, Williams crucially broke for 5-4 and then served out the match in style, sealing victory with three aces and a forehand drive volley.
Williams was full of praises for her opponent. “She started playing really well in the second set. She was making a lot of great shots, hitting really deep.
“I was like “I have to figure out something” and then I just started playing aggressive again, go back to what I was doing all week and it worked out”, she added.
By Olisemeka Obeche