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Williams stoops to conquer Radwanska at Australian Open

Serena Williams moved into her 26th major singles final on Thursday with a 6-0 6-4 destruction of the fourth seed Agnieska Radwanska at the Australian Open in Melbourne. It was the 34-year-old American's ninth victory over the Pole.Ā 

Serena Williams is seeking a 22nd singles title at a grand slam tournament.
Serena Williams is seeking a 22nd singles title at a grand slam tournament. Reuters/Jason Reed
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Angelique Kerber will be Williams' opponent in Saturday's final on the Rod Laver Arena. The seventh seed had too much guile for the unseeded Briton Johanna Konta sweeping past her 7-5 6-2.

Konta, 24, was eliminated in the first round of the qualifying event for last year's tournament but she said she had not felt overawed at playing in the latter stages of a grand slam.

"I was really happy with how I felt on court in terms of nerves," said Konta. "I felt very comfortable. I went out there with a very clear mindset of just trying to compete to the best of my ability against the opponent that I had on the other side of the court."

While Williams has won 21 of her trips to a grand slam showdown, Kerber, 28, will be playing in her first. And the German says she will be on a mission, not only to notch up her first major title but also defend the record of comaptriot Steffi Graf who has won 22 singles titles.

A Williams victory would allow her to equal that mark.

Kerber has won only one of the six encounters with Williams - that was on the hard courts in the Cincinnati event in 2012. "She'll be going out there to try to win again another grand slam and to make history," said Kerber.

"My goal is to win my first grand slam. I think she will have respect. She knows that she must play also good tennis to beat me.

"I'm feeling good. I'm healthy and I'm fit but I know it will be not easy."

Williams who will be the overwhelming favourite said she will not be taking the final lightly. "I worry about every match," she said. "I get stressed out like every other person. Angelique took out a really tough opponent like Victoria Azarenka in the quarter-final. You can never underestimate Kerber and she has beaten me before. She is good and brings a lot to a match and her being a left hander definitely helps out."

Williams, who won the three grand slams last year, added: "It won't be easy as she's been very consistent this year. She's proved that she wants to take her game to the next level. I know that she was saying that she wants to do better in the slams this year and to start out with an appearance in the final tells you that if she puts her mind to something she's going to do it."

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