Serena Williams advances to Australia finals, but goes against brutal path to 24th major title

Serena Williams advanced to the finals of the Australian Open with a tough three-set win over No. 7 seed Aryna Sabalenka and is now on a potentially brutal path to her 24th major title.

Williams, 39, may have to beat world No. 1, 2 and 3 players to tie Margaret Court Australia at the top of the record books.

Serena, a No. 10 seed, will face No. 2 Simona Halep in the quarterfinals, she could meet No. 3 Naomi Osaka in the semis and then could reward him with No. 1 Ash Barty in the round last.

Williams first had to deal with a lively display from Sabalenka which she put out 6-4, 2-6, 6-4 in their first meeting in 2 hours, 9 minutes, denying Sabalenka the first quarter-final show of the Grand Slam of its career.

“It was really important because I didn’t want to be out of the competition, so it felt good to finally trim that and get through,” said Williams. .

Williams, who is on eight of her 23 majors Down Under, advanced to the finals of the Australian Open for the 13th time. She moved well as she beat 30 winners, including nine places, to give Sabalenka just her second loss in the last 20 games.

“I just felt like even losing games, I was so close to winning,” Williams said. “It wasn’t all games, but probably most of them. those games. I just had to play better on the big points. I knew I could. I had not yet reached my summit. I was like, ‘Okay, Serena, you got this, just keep going. ‘”

Serena said she can only hear the voice of her older sister Venus, who lost in the second round after suffering an ankle injury.

“She’s really one of the only voices I hear,” Serena said. “I don’t know if I’ll specify and she’s the only one I hear. I know when I hear her voice, it just makes me calm and confident. Yeah, I think there’s something about it that just makes me feel really good.

Williams will now face two-time Grand Slam champion Simona Halep, who defeated French Open champion Iga Swiatek despite dropping the first set, 3-6, 6-1, 6-4.

Serena leads Halep 9-2, 3-1 in majors, but was crushed in their last meeting in the 2019 Wimbledon final, 6-2, 6-2. Serena’s last win came against Halep in the fourth round of the 2019 Australian Open.

“It’s the best,” said Halep. “I’ll try my best because you can’t just beat Serena if you play your best.”

If Serena can get past Halep, she could meet Osaka, the three-time Grand Slam champion who was down 5-3 in the third set and survived two game points before entering No. 14. Garbine Muguruza 4-6, 6-4, 7 -5. She will face Hsieh Su-wei in Taiwan.

“I think today was just a battle if I can describe it in one word. For me, I feel like I’m very happy with myself for the way I overcame it. the game, “Osaka said. “I think, maybe a year ago … I probably wouldn’t have won this game. There are so many things I thought of in court that would have just been blocked. me from trying to win the game or trying to problem -solve. “

Williams has been involved in 23 majors since winning the 2017 Australian Open while pregnant with his daughter Olympia. She is 0-4 in the Grand Slam finals since then and also lost in the U.S. Open semifinals last fall.

Now she has another chance to win that 24th unbeaten title, but she may have to beat Halep and Osaka before a possible final date with the No. 1 world. 1 Barty, who will meet American Shelby Rogers next round in the fourth round.

“I think it’s pretty deep again,” Williams said of the field. ” I think there have been a lot of players who could win the title from the start of the draw. I think there are as many players who come out and win Grand Slams as can keep winning.

“It’s good. It’s good to see. It’s good to see I’m in that mix too.”