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Serena swans through semi-final

History-chasing Serena Williams touched on perfection as she advanced to an Australian Open final showdown with ambitious German Angelique Kerber.

Jan 29, 2016, updated Jan 29, 2016
Serena Williams greets fans after defeating  Agnieszka Radwanska in their semi final. Photo: MADE NAGI, EPA.

Serena Williams greets fans after defeating Agnieszka Radwanska in their semi final. Photo: MADE NAGI, EPA.

Williams conceded a paltry seven points in the first set of yesterday’s 6-0 6-4 semi-final demolition of Agnieszka Radwanska, prompting the fourth-seeded Pole to observe that the world No.1 effectively had a seventh Australian Open title already in the bag.

“I don’t think anyone can really play on that kind of level at all,” Radwanska said.

“If she’s playing her game, it’s different level.

“She goes on court and she just wants to kill it.”

epa05130637 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland in action against Serena Williams of the US during their semi finals round on day eleven of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, 28 January 2016. EPA/MAST IRHAM

Agnieszka Radwanska in action against Serena Williams. Photo: MAST IRHAM, EPA.

Radwanska has now lost all nine of her clashes with Williams, who will draw level with Steffi Graf’s Open-era record of 22 major titles if she wins tomorrow’s decider.

Only Australian legend Margaret Court (24) has won more grand slam crowns.

Standing in the American’s way is Kerber, the seventh seed who qualified for her first major final with a comprehensive 7-5 6-2 win over Australian-born Brit Johanna Konta.

Kerber will be bidding to become the first German woman since her idol Graf at the 1999 French Open to win a major.

“I have nothing to lose against Serena,” said Kerber, whose only victory in six attempts against Williams came four years ago in Cincinnati.

“But at the other point, I can lose the match.

“I will go out there to try and enjoy my first final and try to beat Serena, of course.

“I must play my best tennis to have a chance because I saw the match against Aga [Radwanska] today, she was playing unbelievably good.

“But I think the nerves will be getting better when I’m out there in the final.”

Williams boasts a perfect six-from-six record in Australian Open deciders, including last year’s title match against Russian Maria Sharapova.

The first set of her semi against Radwanska was over in just 20 minutes, although the Pole did at least offer some resistance in the second set.

“I played well in the beginning, especially in the first set,” said Williams.

“I was able to do everything I needed to do.

“I was really just hitting all the right shots and making little to no errors and it’s kind of hard to play like that.”

Williams completely dominated the winners’ count 42-4.

“I’m really excited to be in another final – it kind of blows my mind right now,” said the 34-year-old.

Williams had dropped only 22 games in the previous five rounds, the most challenging of which was her opening 6-4 7-5 victory over Italian Camila Giorgi – her first competitive match since the 2015 US Open in September.

-AAP

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