Serena, Venus set up dream final

UNSTOPPABLE SERENA Williams zeroed in on a record-breaking 23rd Grand Slam title yesterday by setting up an Australian Open final against her older sister Venus, as the siblings’ dream came true.

The ruthless world No. 2 proved one step too far for unseeded Croat Mirjana LucicBaroni, whose fairytale tournament was finally ended in a crushing 6-2, 6-1 defeat in just 50 minutes.

In swatting aside the 34year-old, in their first meeting since 1998, Serena, 35, stayed on track for a seventh Australian title which would take her past Steffi Graf’s Open-era record of 22 major wins.

She has refused to talk about the possibility of finally surpassing the German, but now has a golden chance of further cementing her place in history.

Winning the title would also mean the world No. 1 ranking would be hers again, after Angelique Kerber snatched deposed her late last year.

Only Venus stands in the way after the elder Williams rolled back the years to beat fellow American Coco Vandeweghe 6-7 (3-7), 6-2, 6-3 in the other semifinal.

It ensured another chapter in their eventful family history as they meet for their ninth Grand Slam final tomorrow, eight years after the last. Serena holds a 6-2 advantage.

“I didn’t watch (Venus). Obviously I was really proud, she’s an inspiration, my big sister,” said Serena.

“She’s my world, my life, she means everything to me. I couldn’t be happier for us both to be in the final. It’s the biggest dream come true for us.”

She also paid tribute to Lucic-Baroni, a former teenage prodigy when the Williams sisters were emerging in the 1990s before her career was derailed by personal problems.

“Mirjana is an inspiration, she deserves all the credit today. To get this far, after everything she has gone through, that just inspires me.”

Despite her serve not being up to scratch in Melbourne until now, Williams has so many other weapons in her armoury that her opponents have been unable to cope.

Lucic-Baroni was no different.

The key to Venus’s victory, though, was her ability to raise her game when it mattered and the seven-times major champion saved 12 of 13 break points she faced, seven in the second set alone.

Venus danced around the court in breathless delight at her victory and gave the crowd an elaborate version of her traditional twirl, having ensured she would become the oldest Australian Open women’s finalist in the professional era.

“Everyone has their moment in the sun,” Venus added.

“Maybe mine has gone on a while but I’d like to keep that going. I got nothing else to do, let’s keep it going.”

Vandeweghe was visibly upset at losing her first grand slam semifinal, indulging in a “feel-sorry-for-myself moment” as she described it.

“But you have to give credit where credit’s due,” she added. “My opponent played better than I did today when it mattered in the clutch points.” – AFP/Reuters