Serena Williams is just two wins away from equalling Margaret Court’s all-time Grand Slam trophy record after disposing of second seed Simona Halep in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open.
The world No.11 overcame some troublesome serving in the second set to prevail 6-3, 6-3, over Halep in what was their first meeting in almost two years. It was Williams’ power that proved decisive as she fired a total of four aces and 24 winners throughout the 82-minute encounter. Although there is room for improvement for the former champion who also dropped her serve three times and leaked 33 unforced errors.
“I definitely think this is the best match I have played in the tournament, for sure,” Williams said during her on-court interview. “I had to going up against the number two in the world so I knew that I had to do better.’
“That’s what I did and I am excited.”
The early anticipated showdown between the two Grand Slam winners was a chance for Williams to avenge her comprehensive loss to Halep in their previous meeting at the 2019 Wimbledon Championships. This time round, the 39-year-old produced a mixture of power and clever angle shots to dictate proceedings throughout the majority of the first set.
Trading breaks of serve early on in the match, Williams started to exert her dominance during in the sixth game after back-to-back Halep errors enabled her to break once again for a 4-2 lead. Although this time she was able to back it up with ease. The intensity of Williams’ tennis was one that visibly frustrated her opponent who appeared to be bemused by some calls being made by the automatic Hawk-eye Live system. Racing towards a 6-3 lead, Williams closed it out in clinical fashion with a love service game.
In what is her 20th main draw appearance in Melbourne, only twice has Williams lost a match at the tournament after winning the first set. Although trying to close the match out was problematic as the American’s unforced error count rapidly increased during the second frame. Twice Wiliams was forced to battle back from a break down against a determined Halep who refused to give up. However, once again her clever use of her angle shots saved her as she weathered the storm to move to a 5-3 lead. Closing in on a record 92nd victory in the tournament, she prevailed on her second match point by hitting another forehand winner.
“I realised that I was making a lot of unforced errors in those games that I lost and I knew I had an opportunity to play better. So I just stayed in there (the match), keep going and that is what I did,” she commented on her comeback.
“I can make leaps and improvements really fast. I know throughout my career speed has been the thing which is super good in my game,” she later added.
Awaiting Williams in the semi-finals will be the formidable Naomi Osaka who is also yet to drop a set in the tournament. The Japanese player defeated Hsieh Su-Wei 6-2, 6-2, earlier in the day.
“She’s Serena, someone that I feel really intimidated when I see her on the other side of the court,” Osaka said during her press conference.
Whilst Osaka says she is intimidated by her upcoming opponent, Williams says she is inspired by hers.
“She’s such a strong person on the court and an inspirational person off the court, which I think is really cool. It’s so good to see someone who is inspiring in both things when they do their job or not,” she said of Osaka.
“I feel like this is such a good opportunity for me to do my best in the first grand slam of the year.”
As a result of her latest win Williams has now reached 40 Grand Slam semi-finals in her career.