Aussie Open: Serena Williams Cruise Past Radwanski For Her 7th Open Final

Serena Williams cruised past fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska on Thursday to reach her seventh Australian Open.

The world number one, who has never lost a semifinal or final at the Australian Open, provided another reminder of her dominance in women’s tennis with a 6-0, 6-4 win over her Polish counterpart at the Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne.

She is now the overwhelming favourite to win her 22nd major title. That would pull her even with Steffi Graf for the most majors in the Open era and second-most in history behind Margaret Court’s 24.

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Williams, who had never lost a semi-final at Melbourne Park broke Radwanska’s service to open the match and was rarely troubled in the 21-minute first set.

The No. 4-ranked Radwanska broke Williams’ serve to level the second set at 3-3, but Williams broke Radwanska’s serve in the ninth game and closed with three aces and a forehand winner to win the match in 1 hour, 4 minutes.

“I’m really excited to be in another final. It blows my mind right now,” said, the 34-year old in a courtside interview.

“I just feel like I’m being the best I can and I can’t believe I’m in another final.

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“She started really well in the second set and making some great shots and hitting it deep and I just thought that I had to be aggressive.”

The writing was on the wall for Radwanska — Williams and Radwanska had met eight times prior, the Pole winning just one set in those previous contests, in the 2012 Wimbledon final.

“Mentally I needed that break after the U.S. Open.

“It just feels so good; I didn’t think that I would do this well this fast. I’m really excited to be in another final. It just blows my mind right now.

“I took so much time off trying to prepare for this.

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“Whatever happens, I’m just so excited to be in another final,” Williams added.

Also speaking to newsmen, Radwanska said, “I didn’t really think that I was playing bad.

“I think she started unbelievable, I was just standing there kind of watching. I had my little chance in second set, especially when it was 4-all. But otherwise, just too good.”

Standing in Williams way is Angelique Kerber, the No. 7 seed advancing to her first-ever Grand Slam final with a victory later Thursday afternoon.

Kerber defeated Johanna Konta, the first British woman for 33 years to play in a Grand Slam semi-final 7-5 6-2 in Melbourne.

Speaking after the game, Kerber said: “I’m really looking forward to playing Serena in the final. I have nothing to lose and will give it everything.”

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Williams and Kerber will face each other in the Australian Open Final on Saturday.

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