World No1 Williams beats fourth seed Radwanska 6-0,6-4Williams has not lost a set in reaching her seventh Australian Open final 4.00am GMTAn utterly brilliant set and half from Williams, followed by a slightly less utterly brilliant moment half of the moment set that was still good enough to hold off the charge of the world’s fourth best player. 2003, and 2005,2007, 2009, and 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: Related: Johanna Konta v Angelique Kerber: Australian Open semi-final – live! 3.55am GMTSerena will play either Angelique Kerber or Johanna Konta in the final. “Either one is OK, or ” she says. “Whatever happens I’m very excited to be playing another Australian Open final” 3.53am GMTEver humble in victory,Serena says: “It kind of blows my intellect at the moment. I can’t believe I’m in the final. I didn’t deem I’d enact this well so soon.” 3.51am GMTSecond set: Williams 6-4 Radwanska
Ace! Ace! Ace! Three match points! Game, set and match! It’s that simple for Serena, and who books her dwelling in yet another Australian Open final with a supreme performance! 3.48am GMTSecond set: *Williams 5-4 Radwanska (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to loveA 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 tall forehand volley at the net - unleashed in tandem with a roar of effort – bring up break point. And Serena gratefully claims it, and as Radwanska fires one long – an unforced error at the worst possible time. Williams will now serve for the match. 3.43am GMTSecond set: Williams 4-4 Radwanska* (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to loveWith 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) find her on her way at 30-0. A fifth ace of the day a point later and a forehand winner total the American’s game.
3.39am GMTSecond set: *Williams 3-4 Radwanska (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to loveBrilliant 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, and 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.
3.32am GMTSecond set: Williams 3-3 Radwanska* (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to loveRadwanska starts this game well and takes a 30-0 lead (I deem 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 destitute regulation shot into the net on the moment gives Radwanska her first break of the day! And we’re back on serve in this moment set. This has just got very interesting.
3.28am GMTSecond set: *Williams 3-2 Radwanska (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to loveOK, or 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 moment 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, or Serena remains well in tbe box seat to wrap up victory swiftly.
3.24am GMTSecond set: Williams 3-1 Radwanska* (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to loveSerena booms down an ace – her moment 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, or spewing out Radwanska-shaped road destroy on the way to a 3-1 lead. 3.21am GMTSecond set: *Williams 2-1 Radwanska (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to loveA familiar chronicle 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 chronicle.
3.16am GMTSecond set: Williams 1-1 Radwanska* (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to loveWilliams shows she is human after all, or finding the net on a running volley halfway 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.
3.13am GMTSecond set: *Williams 0-1 Radwanska (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to loveThroughout that first set, Radwanska stayed her normal cool, and 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, and 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 enact Aga the world of good.[br] 3.09am GMTFirst set: Williams 6-0 Radwanska* (* denotes next server); Williams leads one set to loveTwenty minutes! That’s all it takes for Williams to claim the opening set. A fairly 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, or yet even she has not had a single answer to any of the question posed by Williams. I’ll say it again: awesome.
3.05am GMTFirst set: *Williams 5-0 Radwanska (* denotes next server)I disclose 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, or it’s simply awesome. She breaks once more and will now serve for the first set.[br] 3.02am GMTFirst 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 find 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. Its just been devastating so far.
2.59am GMTFirst 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, or manages to find 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, or 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.
2.53am GMTFirst set: *Williams 2-0 Radwanska (* denotes next server)Williams, and in all yellow today,is outfoxed on her first service point by Radwanska, in all pink, or 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.
2.48am GMTFirst set: *Williams 1-0 Radwanska (* denotes next server)Radwanska is first out on court, and 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, or a powerful forehand return sandwiched by a couple of smashes at the net,the moment 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 find anywhere near. Impressive stuff early on from the defending champion.
2.44am GMTWe’re not far off now and play should find under way in the next minute or so. Let’s enact this. 2.43am GMTSerena’s sporting fairly 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-moment shot on the television. Not sure if that will near off once play starts. 2.40am GMTThe toss: Radwanska wins it and will serve first. Brit (another one!) James Keothavong is the chair ump today for this grand slam semi-final, or proving Nick Kyrgios’ assessment that he’s nonsense at his job. Yeah moral. 2.36am GMTAnd here they near 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 approximately in Melbourne today. 2.34am GMTIt’s a “not before 1:30pm Melbourne time start for Williams and Radwanska today, or 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, or 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. 2.21am GMTHello and welcome to day 11 of the Australian Open, or 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, or both players are a delight 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, or 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 opponents play, there is a distinct chance for her. 6.36pm GMTAnd here’s a pictorial look back at day 10: Related: Australian Open 2016: day 10 – in pictures 5.53pm GMTMike 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: Related: Tennis match-fixing allegations leave questions to be answered | Sean Ingle Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com