By Erik Gudris | Tuesday, January 23, 2017
Serena Williams halted Johanna Konta’s recent win streak to reach yet another Australian Open semifinal.
Photo Credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
“30 is the new 10.”
That’s what 35-year-old Serena Williams said when asked about the number of veteran players doing well at this year’s Australian Open. Williams now finds herself getting closing to perhaps her seventh Melbourne trophy and a record 23rd major title after booking her eighth appearance in the semifinals.
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Williams got there by stopping No. 9 seed Johanna Konta and her nine-match win streak with a sizzling straight sets victory.
Williams entered her first time meeting with the UK No. 1 knowing it would be a tough contest. The match ultimately was decided on which player could serve well, on both first and second serves.
Both players came out swinging with strong serving and big hitting from the baseline. When either player missed a first serve, the other took big cuts on their second serve returns, often producing winners.
Williams faced a break point in the third game but fought it off before closing out the game with an ace. “Finally!” Williams yelled in relief at finding her big serve when she needed it.
That would prove a familiar theme even after Williams later secured the first set 6-2 thanks to a barrage of 13 winners.
While Konta showed that her improved game is why she is now in the top ten, her first meeting with the 22-time major champion was still all about Serena. This proved true in the early stages of the second set.
Williams, after holding serve to open, found herself with 0-40 on Konta’s serve. What seemed like an inevitable march to perhaps a 3-0 lead turned the other way when Williams hit multiple errors. Konta managed to hold on to her serve and then, broke Williams later thanks to a forehand error from the American.
Konta jumped out to a 3-1 advantage, but it would short-lived.
Struggling to find her first serve, Williams relied on several crosscourt forehand winners to get her game going. Williams then hit back to back aces for 2-3, but still was unhappy about the state of things.
When asked later about that stretch, Williams said she told herself to “Stop complaining. Don’t be Babyrena out here.”
Williams fought off another break point later in the set and fired down two more aces to get to 4-3.
Konta never found a way to threaten Williams down the stretch. Faced with the relentess pressure of Williams’ return game, Konta started hitting errors at the wrong time. Williams, holding another break point at 30-40, found herself facing another Konta second serve. Williams converted with a backhand winner for 5-3.
From there, Williams enjoyed an easy service game as she closed out the match 6-2, 6-3 in just 75 minutes. Williams broke out in a huge grin in celebration knowing what a tough opponent she had just beaten.
Waiting for Williams next is surprise semifinalist 34-year-old Mirjana Lucic-Baroni making her first major final four appearance in 18 years. Williams played Lucic-Baroni only two times back in 1998 when they were both rising teenagers.
“No matter what happens someone 34 or older will be in the final,” Williams said on the prospect of facing Lucic-Baroni.