Federer edges Wawrinka P23 thriller Just like old times SPORTS 2424 Friday, January 27, 2017 Serena,Venus to meet in final ‘A dream come

Melbourne further cementing her place in that it nstoppable Serena history. showed. true’Williams zeroed in on a Winning the title would “It felt Urecord-breaking 23rd Grand also mean a return to world really Slam title yesterday by setting number one, snatching the title good up an Australian Open final back after because I felt against her older sister Venus, deposed her last year. like it was in my as the siblings’ dream came Only Venus stands in the hands to force this true. way after the elder Williams Williams final,” The ruthless world number rolled back the years to she said. two proved one step too far beat fellow American Coco “Believe it for unseeded Croat Mirjana Vandeweghe 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 6-3 or not, I was Lucic-Baroni, whose fairytale in the other semi-final. feeling a tournament was finally ended It opened another chapter little bit of in a crushing 6-2, 6-1 defeat in in their eventful family history pressure just 50 minutes. as they meet for their ninth about that, In swatting aside the 34-year- Grand Slam final on Saturday, but it felt old, in their first meeting since eight years after the last at really good 1998, Serena, 35, stayed on Wimbledon in 2009. Serena to get that track for a seventh Australian won that one and holds a 6-2 win.” title which would take her past advantage. She also paid MATCH STATS Steffi Graf’s Open-era record “I didn’t watch (Venus). tribute to Lucic- Serena V Lucic-Baroni Venus V Coco Vandeweghe of 22 major wins. Obviously I was really proud, Baroni, a former Serena Williams (USA x2) bt Mirjana (USA x13) bt Coco She has refused to talk she’s an inspiration, my big teenage prodigy Lucic-Baroni (CRO) 6-2, 6-1 Vandeweghe (USA) 6-7 (3/7), 6-2, 6-3 about the possibility of finally sister,” said Serena. “She’s when the Williams surpassing the German, but my world, my life, she means sisters were emerging Time: 50min Time: 2hr 26min now has a golden chance of everything to me. I couldn’t in the 1990s before Lucic-Baroni - Williams Vandeweghe - Williams be happier for us both to be in her career was derailed 3 Aces 3 10 Aces 11 the final. It’s the biggest dream by personal problems. 6 Double Faults 3 11 Double Faults 5 come true for us.” “Mirjana is an 10 Winners 14 37 Winners 30 Williams added that seeing inspiration, she 23 Unforced Errors 10 51 Unforced Errors 35 Venus reach the final had put deserves all the credit 0/0 Break Point Conversions 5/6 1/13 Break Point Conversions 5/9 her under extra pressure -- not today.”(AFP) 33 Total Points Won 56 96 Total Points Won 107 Venus Williams

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