Serena to face Sharapova in Australian Open final
Russian Sharapova is a five-time grand slam champion but has not beaten top-seed Serena since 2004.
Serena Williams brushed aside the latest member of ‘generation next’ trying to steal her crown by beating teenager Madison Keys 7-6, 6-2, setting up a blockbuster Australian Open final against Maria Sharapova.
Top-seed Williams, who at 33 is 14 years Keys’ senior, faces Sharapova on Saturday after the Russian trounced compatriot Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 6-2 in the earlier semi-final.
Williams was pushed hard by her 19-year-old challenger in an absorbing duel between two of the game’s hardest hitters on a cool and windy day at Rod Laver Arena.
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Keys burnished her credentials as the next torchbearer for American tennis, defiantly saving eight match points as her opponent roared in frustration before Williams sealed the contest with a thumping ace down the middle.
“She’s obviously a great player,” Williams said courtside, still suffering a cold and breaking into coughs.
“I think she’s going to be winning this tournament very soon and lots of other grand slams. I was really happy to see her do so well and be such a great sport at the same time.”
Williams, who retains her world number one ranking by reaching the final, will face the woman she has tormented for over a decade in 27-year-old Sharapova, a five-time grand slam champion with a 2-16 losing record to the American.
The last time Sharapova beat Williams was at the Tour Championships in 2004.
Sharapova, a 2008 champion at Melbourne Park, lost to Williams in the 2007 final and again in the final at the 2013 French Open.