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| Serena Williams during her Australian Open match against Maria Sharapova in Melbourne on January 26, 2016 ©Saeed Khan (AFP) |
World number one Serena
Williams muscled past Maria Sharapova for an 18th straight time Tuesday to set
up an Australian Open semi-final against Agnieszka Radwanska, who has never
beaten the dominant American.
AFP
report continues:
The
six-time Melbourne Park champion heaped more misery on her long-time rival 6-4,
6-1, with the Russian fifth seed stretching her demoralizing unbeaten run
against the American great to 12 years.
With
Sharapova again swatted aside, the 34-year-old Williams, gunning to match
Steffi Graf's Open-era Grand Slam record of 22 titles, now has the composed
Pole in her sights.
The
signs are not good for Radwanska, who easily disposed of Spanish 10th seed
Carla Suarez 6-1, 6-3 win on Rod Laver Arena.
While
her record against Williams is not yet on the scale of Sharapova, it is still
dismal.
She
has played her eight times since 2008 and lost the lot, taking just one set
along the way.
Another
ominous fact facing the Pole is that every time defending champion Williams has
got past the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park, she has gone on to win the
tournament.
Ahead
of the Williams-Sharapova showdown, Radwanska, also a semi-finalist last year,
said she did not mind who she faced in the last four clash on Thursday.
"I
have nothing to lose and it does not matter who I play. Hopefully I can play my
best tennis or I'll be in trouble," said the popular 26-year-old, who is
on a 13-match win streak.
The
Pole added that the experience she gained from making the Wimbledon final in
2012 and three other major semis would be crucial.
"Experience
is very important in tennis. I'm happy to have that and I'll be ready for the
semi," she said.
Her
big-match experience pales in comparison to Williams who has won 21 Grand Slam
titles, including six at Melbourne Park, and played in four other finals at the
majors.
"She
a great defender and a great girl," Williams said of Radwanska.
"Regardless, whoever gets to the final it will be a great thing. I have
nothing to lose."
- 'Back to the drawing
board' -
On
a scorching hot day, the sluggish 34-year-old, the oldest world number one in
WTA history, was slow to get going against Sharapova.
She
was broken on her opening serve but soon got on the scoreboard as her power
serve found its range and her game started coming together.
It
was a typically tight first set against her long-time rival but she finally
came through after a brutal 55 minutes.
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|
Serena
Williams (R) shakes hands with Maria Sharapova after winning their women's
singles match on day nine of the 2016 Australian Open in Melbourne on January
26, 2016 ©Saeed Khan (AFP)
|
Williams,
who only lost three matches in 56 last season, called the trainer out at the
changeover, apparently feeling unwell, but soldiered on and took control with
an early break in the second set.
The
Russian began wilting and Williams, who won three majors -- the Australian and
French Opens and Wimbledon -- last year, which took her to within one of Graf's
record of 22, kept her foot to the floor and turned the contest into a rout.
It
meant the five-time Grand Slam winner's demoralizing jinx against one of the
greatest players ever remains intact.
It
dates back to 2004 when she last beat her in the Wimbledon final. Her downfall
started in an epic semi-final at the 2005 Australian Open, with the American
scraping home in a 2-6, 7-5, 8-6 thriller.
Despite
yet another defeat, Sharapova insisted it kept her motivated to keep improving.
"It's
motivating because she's at a different level. She makes you go back to the
drawing board, not just for me, but for many other players," she said.
"She makes you work.
That's inspiring."
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