Final thoughts
Some nice words from Serena about Konta in her courtside interview – “She’s definitely a future champion here for sure” – but really, the American was rarely in danger of losing today. A slight wobble early in the second set gave her a brief scare, but she used all her experience to overcome it and power through to what is her 34th grand slam semi-final.
Konta departs, unable to match her run to the semi-final at Melbourne Park 12 months ago, but still with her head held high. There is no disgrace in losing to a player of Williams’ calibre. And the way the British No1 has started the year gives encouragement that she will only improve further by the time she next returns to Australia.
So, Serena, 35, will play Lučić-Baroni, 34, in the semis, and an all-Williams final remains a possibility, with Venus, 36, to play the baby of the bunch, Coco Vanderweghe in the other semi. Interesting times.
Thanks for joining me today. Here’s Kevin Mitchell’s match report, but from me, it’s bye for now:
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Williams wins the second set and the match!
Second set: Johanna Konta 2-6, 3-6 Serena Williams* (* denotes server) The writing is on the wall early on in this game, as Konta simply cannot get to grips with some supreme serving from Williams. She fails to return three times and Serena secures victory, powering into the semi-finals, and remaining on course for a seventh Australian Open crown!
Second set: *Johanna Konta 2-6, 3-5 Serena Williams (* denotes server) Serena’s brilliant forehand at 15-30 down puts paid to some good early work from Konta and the when the Briton hits wide on the next point, there comes a significant moment in the match: Serena punches a backhand winner back past Konta to break her serve and take a 5-3 lead in the second set. She’ll now serve for a place in the semi-finals.
Second set: Johanna Konta 2-6, 3-4 Serena Williams* (* denotes server) A loose baseline shot from Williams lets Konta back into this game at 30-30 and she is made to regret it as Konta plays a textbook next point, running into a volley to bring up break point. The Briton can’t take the chance though and two Williams aces later – her eighth and ninth of the match – the American holds. And we’re getting to squeaky-bum time for Konta, something she should know all about having spent time with her nephew over the past week.
Second set: *Johanna Konta 2-6, 3-3 Serena Williams (* denotes server) The pressure appears to tell as Konta struggles now, perhaps aware of the importance of the last game won by Williams. Konta double faults at a crucial time (0-30) and Serena, after a brilliant point that she wins after scrambling hard to herself alive, breaks back to get this set back on serve!
Second set: Johanna Konta 2-6, 3-2 Serena Williams* (* denotes server) Serena’s becoming increasingly agitated on lost points, but still, she manages to hold it together this game, a pair of back-to-back aces sealing the deal. That might well help her in her battle to stay in control of her emotions. Konta remains a break up midway through this second set.
Second set: *Johanna Konta 2-6, 3-1 Serena Williams (* denotes server) Konta, serving with that distinctive motion of hers, backs up that break with a hold, including a lovely backhand winner puts her up 30-15. Serena’s game, meanwhile, is littered with some wild baseline shots. The tide seems to be turning.
Second set: Johanna Konta 2-6, 2-1 Serena Williams* (* denotes server) Serena looks entirely comfortable until a double fault allows Konta back into this game, and signals a slight shift in momentum. Serena all of a sudden looks rattled, she shouts at the end of the point, and Konta capitalises to secure her first break of the match!
Second set: *Johanna Konta 2-6, 1-1 Serena Williams (* denotes server) Well, well, well. Konta is in real danger of letting this one slip away from her, losing the first three points to gift Serena an opportunity to cement her foothold on this match. But against the odds, she saves all three break points, before eliciting applause from Serena with a perfectly played point at deuce and then clinching the game on the next point. A brilliant response in the face of adversity from Konta there, and if she can build on that, she could yet give Williams problems.
Second set: Johanna Konta 2-6, 0-1 Serena Williams* (* denotes server) How Konta reacts to the disappointment of losing that first set in these first few games of the second will shape the outcome of the match, I feel. This first game isn’t a disaster by any stretch for the Briton, but still, Serena is in charge throughout and she holds to take the lead.
Williams wins the first set!
First set: *Johanna Konta 2-6 Serena Williams (* denotes server) A lengthy game this one, as Konta, faced with some big-hitting and net-rushing from Serena, fails to close it out on several occasions. A crushing backhand winner brings up set point for the American and she doesn’t need a second invitation to claim the opener, comfortably enough. She’s playing some intimidating tennis at the moment, and Konta doesn’t really know how to deal with it.
First set: Johanna Konta 2-5 Serena Williams* (* denotes server) Another ace comes booming off the Williams racquet and it’s a straightfoward hold for the American. Konta must now pull something special out of the bag if she’s to keep alive her hopes of staying in this first set. She can start with holding serve.
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First set: *Johanna Konta 2-4 Serena Williams (* denotes server) Good stuff from Konta here as she holds serve with apparent ease, just one tremendous forehand winner from Serena punctuating what is otherwise a comfortable service hold for the Briton.
Gavin Abfalter writes in to say: “Saw your reference to the Konta nephew. Father of said child is AFL Greater Western Sydney Giant (actual GIANT by the way as opposed to mascot giant!!!) Shane Mumford. Is he in the house?” Haven’t seen Mummy yet Gav, but I’m reliant on TV pictures. The baby was in the arms of his actual mummy.
First set: Johanna Konta 1-4 Serena Williams* (* denotes server) No messing about from Serena this game as she serves out to open up a three-game lead. And we’ve only been on court for 19 minutes. Konta hasn’t had the chance to settle properly yet, largely thanks to Serena’s aggressive play.
First set: *Johanna Konta 1-3 Serena Williams (* denotes server) A lovely crosscourt forehand from Serena gives the American a 30-0 lead – and a whiff of blood – and despite an attempted drop shot that goes awry on the next point, she goes on to bring up two break points. A Konta ace saves the first, but the Briton finds the net on the second, and Serena breaks to nose ahead early in this first set!
First set: Johanna Konta 1-2 Serena Williams* (* denotes server) Both Konta and Williams are a bit loose on forehands at the baseline early in this game, but Serena is in total control of the point at 15-30, manoeuvring Konta around the court before finishing off at the net. Konta manages to pull back to deuce though, and a brilliant crosscourt forehand winner brings up the first break opportunity of the day. She can’t take it, and Serena goes on to hold, with another ace, prompting her to let out a relieved shout a look to the heavens.
Meanwhile, there it is! The first sighting on TV of Konta’s two-month old nephew in the crowd. Inevitable really, he’s very cute. And for those wanting to know, he’s getting winded.
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First set: *Johanna Konta 1-1 Serena Williams (* denotes server) Whatever Serena can do with the ball in her hand, so too can Konta. The Briton fires down an ace on her way to securing a love hold and we’re on serve early on in this first set.
First set: Johanna Konta 0-1 Serena Williams* (* denotes server) Here we go then! Serena will serve first. But it’s Konta who draws first blood with an excellent forehand winner on the opening point. That doesn’t really set the tone for the rest of the game though and some fierce serving from Williams sees her go on to hold without too much fuss.
“Better for Konta to be playing Serena this early I think,” writes Adam Hirst. “If she doesn’t win, then fine, she’s had fun in Australia and will be better for next time. But she might have a better chance in the quarters than with the added pressure of a GS semi or her first final.”
Excellent! A first email has landed, from a Mr Andrew Benton. “JK’s going to have to move her game up a few gears if she’s to beat Serena – orders of magnitude separate the two and I can’t see it being anything other than a learning experience for her. Should be a hard-fought game.” Good to have you on board Andrew.
Think I’ve got something in my eye after watching Croatian Lučić-Baroni’s post-match on-court interview:
"This has truly made my life...it has made it okay." #LucicBaroni #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/SeE9ePoqOo
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 25, 2017
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A quick word on the weather in Melbourne today: it’s a cool 19 degrees at the moment, although the sun is out and no doubt it’s slightly hotter than that for the players down there on the court. Still, pretty much perfect playing conditions.
While we’re waiting for the players to emerge from the bowels of Rod Laver Arena, here’s how these two players compare in some key areas:
To note: these two have never played each other before, so I guess we’re heading into something of the unknown.
Preamble
Serena Williams is back in the spotlight as the world No2 continues her pursuit of a slice of tennis history, but immediately standing in the American’s way is arguably (not too difficult an argument to make, to be fair) the sternest test she has faced so far this tournament: Johanna Konta, the 25-year-old Briton whose rise up the rankings over the past 12 months has been as rapid as it has been deserved.
Now No9 in the world (up 38 places since January last year), Konta has shown enough since returning to the country of her birth (first and last mentioned of that particular fact, I promise) earlier this month to suggest she might have what it takes to cause an upset today. The likes of Bouchard, Radwanska, Wozniaki and Makarova have already been vanquished at the hands of the Sydney-born player (oops) over the past couple of weeks on Australian courts, and it’s difficult to see how her preparation could have gone any better.
Williams, meanwhile, was a way off her devastating best in her last outing on court – a far from straightforward victory over Barbora Strýcová – and by her own admission she needed to work hard, on her first serve in particular, to iron out problems before this encounter. Her coach, Patrick Mouratoglou, has also highlighted a recent lack of mobility as a problem, something that will have not gone unnoticed in Konta’s camp.
Yet Williams, who is looking to clinch one more title to take her past Steffi Graf’s grand slam record of 22 in the Open era, is a veteran of these high-pressure encounters deep into major tournaments, and she still heads into this one as the firm favourite to progress to a final-four meeting with another old-timer, the 34-year-old Mirjana Lučić-Baroni, who has just beaten Karolína Plíšková 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 to book her place in the final four.
Due to the late running of that match, this one, which was scheduled to start at 1pm local time, has been slightly delayed, but the players will be along soon enough and we should be ready to go shortly.
All that’s left to say for now is hello and welcome. I’m Mike Hytner, your curator of upcoming events on Rod Laver Arena over the next couple of hours. Please do get in touch with your thoughts, dreams, aspirations and credit card details (no, not your credit card details, thanks all the same) – mike.hytner@theguardian.com is the email address to use, while you can also hit me up on Twitter @mike_hytner.
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Mike will be here shortly. In the meantime, here’s Kevin Mitchell’s preview of today’s big match:
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