Dominant Serena Williams To Face Angelique Kerber In 2016 Australian Open Final

by Sean Randall | January 28th, 2016, 7:47 am
  • 41 Comments

No surprises in the women’s semifinals today as favorites Serena Williams and Angelique Kerber both advanced to Saturday final in straight sets.

After a day off yesterday, Serena was on first and she came out swinging against Agnieszka Radwanska, jumping out to a 7-0 lead before the World No. 4 got her teeth into the match.

Serena’s lull didn’t last long as she broke Radwanska late to win the match 6-0, 6-4 to reach her 26th career Grand Slam final.


“I think I played well in the beginning, especially in the first set,” Serena said. “I was able to do everything that I needed to do. I was really hitting just all the right shots, making little to no errors, which is kind of hard to play like that. But it was good.

“She started playing better. It was good for me mentally as well because I was able to recover and do well again.”

Serena hasn’t lost a set and other than that Vinci loss, she’s been unbeatable in Grand Slam play the last year. That’s pretty good for a 34-year-old!

“I never thought I was going to go out and lose in the first round, but at the same time I never thought before, I’m going to make it to the final, or anything. I was just playing literally a point at a time”

Serena is now just one win from a 7th Australian Open title and more importantly, a 22nd career Grand Slam which would tie her with Steffi Graf for most in the Open Era.

“I was one off last year, too,” Serena said. “If I don’t win on Saturday, I’ll still be one off. It took me forever to get to 18. I was so stressed out. I don’t want to relive that at all.”

Radwanska, who was playing her second Australian Open final, has never beaten Serena in nine tries.

“I think the only thing that I could do better is if I put more first serves, that would help for sure,” Radwanska said. “But otherwise I didn’t really think that I was playing bad. I think she started unbelievable, with such a power and speed. I was just standing there kind of watching her playing.

“I had my little chance in second set, especially when it was 4-All. But otherwise just too good.

In the final Serena will take on Angelique Kerber who ended the run of Brit Cinderella Johanna Konta 7-5, 6-2.

Playing in her first semifinal, Konta fell behind early 3-0 before roaring back to take a 4-3 lead. But Kerber’s experience proved essential as she won 10 of the last 13 games to reach her first Grand Slam final.

“That’s a special moment, a special feeling to get there right now, to being in the final,” Kerber said. “I’m four years in the top 10. I was not playing so good last year in the big tournaments.”

Serena leads 5-1 having lost to the German at Cincinnati in 2012.

“She took out a really tough opponent in Victoria,” Serena said. ‘You can’t underestimate Kerber. She’s beaten me before, too, and pretty good. I know that she brings a lot, you know, to the game. Her being lefty definitely helps out as well. I haven’t played any lefties yet. But we’ll see. I think if I do play her, it will be a really good match. It definitely won’t be easy.”


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41 Comments for Dominant Serena Williams To Face Angelique Kerber In 2016 Australian Open Final

Pauly Says:

Serena will win as usual no stopping that strong girl anytime soon … Hoping Serena can win all 4 majors this year & retire so the others can finally win some majors


Margot Says:

Great for Kerber, her first final. Have always liked her.
Hope she puts up a fight and it’s not a disappointing rout.


Van Persie Says:

Angie, keine grosse Chancen fuer dich heute, versuch aber dein Bestes! Viel Erfolg!


FedExpress Says:

Break kerber

3-1 deucd on sernas serve

serena screaming and fist pumping like usual on every point

Cant serve above 160 kmh atm


FedExpress Says:

What a clown this serena is

clowns costume also


FedExpress Says:

Haha that shriek


FedExpress Says:

Perfect role model this 21 times gs champ is for younger players

whining, screaming, crying


FedExpress Says:

First set kerer


Tennisfan Says:

At least Kerber is making it competitive!


FedExpress Says:

serena: monster of loch ness


FedExpress Says:

hahahhahahahahahah
5-2 kerber in 3rd


FedExpress Says:

kerber u beauty

AO Winner 2016


Van Persie Says:

Congraaaaats Angie!!! Bist ein Schatz!!xxxx

Well, Serena, Steffi still has 1 more GS then you ;)


PJ Says:

Recorded the match and I haven’t watched yet, but holy crap. Did not see that coming at all. Congratulations, Angelique Kerber!


PJ Says:

Unbelievable that she was one point from being out in the first round


Margot Says:

What a fabulous final!
Thrilled, thrilled, thrilled for Angie!
Her ROS was fantastic. Dreams come true!
Go Andy ;)


El_matador Says:

Kerber,u beauty,love u..serena,great gesture/respect\


Purcell Says:

What a wonderful match. Terrific moments at the end.


Wog Boy Says:

It takes German to stop Serena reaching German record.

Sehr gut Kerber.


FedExpress Says:

Läuft bei Kerber. Hagemann ging ab auf Eurosport.


Pauly Says:

Kerber was great
Serena wasn’t good enough
But she is still the greatest


mat4 Says:

Very happy for Kerber. She played a great match, and it was a real feat.


Tennisfan Says:

Wow! Congrats Kerber!!


Purcell Says:

Angie puts in an Oscar winning speech to match her fantastic win. Cheers to Serena……..so happy for Angie.


FedExpress Says:

still steffi the greatest


mat4 Says:

Serena is nowhere near the likes of Navratilova, Graff and Evert. I rank even Seles as a better player: she dominated Graff before being stabbed.


mat4 Says:

FedExpress:

Even if La Mauve wins more slams than Steffi, there’s no question who was the better player between them.

And the greatest is Martina Navratilova.


Wog Boy Says:

“But she is still the greatest”

Not quite, one GS short of Steffie and three GSs short of Margaret Court.


Okiegal Says:

The number “ones” of the world can still get shaky, nervous and fall apart. Serena battled back, how, I don’t know…..her shot making was awful. Kerber was the better player today and congrats to her and her fans. I am sure she has more on here than Serena. Serena is a great champion…..and she showed her human side today. It was a great exciting match! I stayed up all night to watch my favorite female player get beat!! LOL


mat4 Says:

Sorry, it’s Steffie Graf, with one “f”. My bad.


Pauly Says:

Serena is the greatest of all time
No one can dispute that
Plus great gracious loser


Pauly Says:

Serena is the greatest of all time
No one can dispute that
Plus great gracious loser


AndyMira Says:

Hi Okie..good evening,good nite and good tennis to you..although with serena loss it’s not a very good tennis i suppose..sorry for your loss..don’t worry..she’ll win again..there’s 3 slams ahead..anything can happen in tennis right?


Van Persie Says:

Navratilova was better the Serena in doubles, Steffi got the golden slam in 1988…..I consider both better then Serena.


Pauly Says:

Serena can beat Nadal at the Moment if she plays her best tennis she serves much harder than him
I’m serious


Okiegal Says:

Hello to you too, AndyMira! I’m not too worried about Serena. She has won a lot and this defeat won’t set her back too much. I think she was very tight…..dealing with all the Graff hoopla! The news media gets things stirred up and puts a lot of added pressure on the player. I loved Serena going to her and smiling and the hug…..I thought that was very sweet the way they both handled the win and the defeat. A real genuine exchange between them. I have got to get to bed!


AndyMira Says:

Okie..go to bed already?You said you’re always staying late..yeah..i also loved the moment at net..it’s genuine..god knows women’s tour is not like men’s..sometimes they don’t even shake hands..


madmax Says:

Kerber: “Serena told me she was really happy for me & I deserved it. She’s a great person, inspires a lot of people. It was great from her”.

Amazing.


AndyMira Says:

Agree with Pauly @6.56 am,her serves sometimes can reach almost 200kmh!And there’s a bunch of them on WTA..sabine lisicki is one of them..this amazing gals can put rafa to shame!I can’t remember rafa serves 195kmh but sabine used to serves 210kmh 2 years ago!


madmax Says:

Angelique Kerber def Serena Williams 6-4 3-6 6-4

30 January, 2016
Serena Williams, F, 30 January 2016.
Q. What a match.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Yeah, it was a really good, really intense match. I thought it was really exciting. Even being out there in the moment was pretty cool.

Q. You looked almost as happy as she did.
SERENA WILLIAMS: Really (smiling)? I should get into acting.

No, I was actually really happy for her. She’s been around a really long time. We’ve had a number of matches. I’ve beaten her a lot.

She played so well today. She had an attitude that I think a lot of people can learn from: just to always stay positive and to never give up.

I was really inspired by that. So, honestly, she’s a really good girl. If I couldn’t win, I’m happy she did.

What a gracious loser. Well done Serena. This is a very cool match to watch.


Okiegal Says:

@AM….I got a little sleep……3 hrs maybe??

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