An utterly brilliant set and half from Williams, followed by a slightly less utterly brilliant second half of the second set that was still good enough to hold off the charge of the world’s fourth best player. 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2015... will Serena add 2016 to that list of Australian Open titles? You wouldn’t bet against it after that performance.
That’s it from me for now, but Russell Jackson has just fired up his liveblog for the Kerber-Konta match - follow it here:
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Serena will play either Angelique Kerber or Johanna Konta in the final. “Either one is OK,” she says. “Whatever happens I’m very excited to be playing another Australian Open final”
Ever humble in victory, Serena says: “It kind of blows my mind at the moment. I can’t believe I’m in the final. I didn’t think I’d do this well so soon.”
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Game, set and match! Williams wins 6-0, 6-4
Second set: Williams 6-4 Radwanska
Ace! Ace! Ace! Three match points! Game, set and match! It’s that simple for Serena, who books her place in yet another Australian Open final with a supreme performance!
Second set: *Williams 5-4 Radwanska (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to love
A couple of Serena’s groundstrokes fail to hit their mark, giving brief hope to Radwanska, but the American’s radar is soon back in working order and a high forehand volley at the net - unleashed in tandem with a roar of effort – bring up break point. And Serena gratefully claims it, as Radwanska fires one long – an unforced error at the worst possible time. Williams will now serve for the match.
Second set: Williams 4-4 Radwanska* (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to love
With the pressure on to stem the flow of lost games, Williams steps up to the plate on serve. An overhead smash at the net and an ace (challenged by Radwanska, unsuccessfully) get her on her way at 30-0. A fifth ace of the day a point later and a forehand winner complete the American’s game.
Second set: *Williams 3-4 Radwanska (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to love
Brilliant from Radwanska! That’s why she’s ranked fourth in the world! She absorbs Serena’s power in a 15-shot rally before a deft drop shot does for the American. Absolutely wonderful to watch. As is the rest of this game, as an actual contest develops between the two players. Three deuces, a missed break chance for Williams and some longer rallies end with Radwanska holding again. She’s now won three straight games, and the Pole is back in this.
Second set: Williams 3-3 Radwanska* (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to love
Radwanska starts this game well and takes a 30-0 lead (I think for the first time this match) as Serena allows her level to drop slightly. A loose shot from the American hits the net and all of a sudden she’s facing two break points! An ace saves the first but another poor regulation shot into the net on the second gives Radwanska her first break of the day! And we’re back on serve in this second set. This has just got very interesting.
Second set: *Williams 3-2 Radwanska (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to love
OK, we’re 40 minutes into this match and the odds of hitting the hour mark have just been given a shot in the arm: Radwanska holds serve for a second time this set (and match). Vaguely encouraging signs for the Pole, but you fear the damage has already been done and, at a break down, Serena remains well in tbe box seat to wrap up victory swiftly.
As if anticipating a finish sometime soon, Kerber and Konta, up next, are both shown on television warming up in the bowels of Rod Laver Arena.
Second set: Williams 3-1 Radwanska* (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to love
Serena booms down an ace – her second of the match – to kick off this game, although she blots her copy book slightly with a first double fault a point later. Still, there’s no stopping the Serena juggernaut as it continues along its way, spewing out Radwanska-shaped road kill on the way to a 3-1 lead.
Second set: *Williams 2-1 Radwanska (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to love
A familiar story unfolds this game, after the anomaly that was Radwanska’s last service game, and Serena has yet another break. Williams’ winner count is now 24; Radwanska has had just two. That tells its own story.
Second set: Williams 1-1 Radwanska* (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to love
Williams shows she is human after all, finding the net on a running volley midway through this game. But it’s nothing more than a blip and an ace follows soon after, with a monster serve and booming forehand winner at the net sealing another service game before too long.
Second set: *Williams 0-1 Radwanska (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to love
Throughout that first set, Radwanska stayed her usual cool, calm and collected self. It cannot have been easy – getting bagelled in such a manner can be a humiliating experience – yet you can’t help but admire the Pole’s demeanour. No tantrums, no shrieking, no pointing at her box, like so many other players on the tour, just focus on her own game. And she’s rewarded for her composure in such trying conditions with a first game of the match at the beginning of this set. The crowd respond with the biggest cheer of the day, and that will do Aga the world of good.
Williams wins first set
First set: Williams 6-0 Radwanska* (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to love
Twenty minutes! That’s all it takes for Williams to claim the opening set. A quite outstanding performance from the American over six games of near perfect attacking tennis. Let’s not forget this isn’t a wildcard she’s playing – it’s the world No4, yet even she has not had a single answer to any of the question posed by Williams. I’ll say it again: awesome.
First set: *Williams 5-0 Radwanska (* denotes next server)
I tell you what: Serena is just scary when she’s playing like this. There’s not a player on the planet who can match her when she’s in this mood. The way she’s forcing the issue, hammering groundstroke after groundstroke after groundstroke to Radwanska, rushing to the net on occasion to equally devastating effect, it’s simply awesome. She breaks once more and will now serve for the first set.
First set: Williams 4-0 Radwanska* (* denotes next server)
Radwanska gives her fans a glimmer of hope with an indication of what she’s capable of – she cracks a superb forehand winner back past Serena – her first of the night – to get to 15-30, but that’s all she’s got this game. Serena holds serve once again and the opening set is nearly over already. It’s just been devastating so far.
First set: *Williams 3-0 Radwanska (* denotes next server)
Radwanska is getting blown away here with the sheer aggression of Williams’ play so far proving unplayable. The Pole, to her credit, manages to get back from 0-30 to level the scores, but Serena cranks up the pressure. Radwanska double faults on break point for Williams, and that’s that. Ring on finger update: it’s still on Serena’s digit, and clearly its weight or bulk is not hampering the No1 seed in any way, shape or form. Ten winners from Serena, none for Radwanska in the three games completed.
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First set: *Williams 2-0 Radwanska (* denotes next server)
Williams, in all yellow today, is outfoxed on her first service point by Radwanska, in all pink, the Pole maneouvering her opponent around the court and forcing her into an error. But she settles soon enough, her groundstrokes causing Radwanska problems on the remaining points of the game. Williams rushes the net and volleys on the run to seal the game and consolidate that opening break. Very, very good start for the American.
First set: *Williams 1-0 Radwanska (* denotes next server)
Radwanska is first out on court, to loud applause, as Serena delays her arrival in rather regal fashion and playing up to her status as queen of tennis. The American finally walks out, also to a warm reception. Williams sets out her stall early on, a powerful forehand return sandwiched by a couple of smashes at the net, the second of which brings up the first break point chance of the match. Ooof! What a return of serve, this time a backhand that Radwanska can’t get anywhere near. Impressive stuff early on from the defending champion.
We’re not far off now and play should get under way in the next minute or so. Let’s do this.
Serena’s sporting quite some bling during the warm-up - a rock the size of a small child’s head on her finger catches the stadium lights beautifully in a slo-mo shot on the television. Not sure if that will come off once play starts.
The toss: Radwanska wins it and will serve first. Brit (another one!) James Keothavong is the chair ump today for this grand slam semi-final, proving Nick Kyrgios’ assessment that he’s rubbish at his job. Yeah right.
And here they come to warm cheers from the stands following introductions from that guy with the smoothest voice in tennis. From the telly, it could be a night match, but of course it’s not - the roof that is closed as there are thunderstorms about in Melbourne today.
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It’s a “not before 1:30pm” Melbourne time start for Williams and Radwanska today, but with the opening match on RLA already finished, there shouldn’t be a delay in starting.
The match, the men’s doubles semi-final, was won by Jamie Murray and Bruno Soares, continuing what has been an incredible tournament so far for British tennis. Murray’s brother Andy is through to a semi-final in the men’s singles draw, and of course Johanna Konta plays Angelique Kerber in the women’s singles last four later today. It’s borderline global domination.
Preamble
Hello and welcome to day 11 of the Australian Open, the pointy end of the competition. The women’s semi-finals are scheduled for Rod Laver Arena today and first up, it’s top seed Serena Williams against Agnieszka Radwanska, a classic match-up of power and muscular big hitting versus grace and a wily soft touch. For entirely different reasons, both players are a joy to watch when in full flow, yet Serena has rarely faced the fourth seeded Pole in such a light. Of the eight encounters this pair have already played out, Williams has won all eight. Worse, Radwanska has managed to pick up just one set against the American (during the Wimbledon final in 2012).
Serena is yet to drop a set this tournament (she’s lost just eight games in her last three matches here) and it would be a brave person to bet against her winning through to yet another grand slam final by end of play today. But it shouldn’t be a foregone conclusion – Radwanska has been equally impressive on her way to this stage, and the world No4 has dropped just one set herself (against Anna-Lena Freidsam in the last 16). Is she can frustrate Serena by absorbing the American’s power game – something she’s yet to figure out – and wait for errors to creep into her opponent’s play, there is a definite chance for her.
We’ll see how it goes over the next couple of hours. Strap yourselves in, it promises to be an intriguing clash. While we wait for the players to emerge, there’s time to inform you that you can reach me on the email address above, or @mike_hytner on Twitter, if you fancy getting something tennis-related off your chest.
And here’s a pictorial look back at day 10:
Mike will be with you shortly. In the meantime you can enjoy Sean Ingle’s analysis of why tennis’s match-fixing allegations leave questions to be answered:
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