Radwanska through to Open semi-final

Agnieszka Radwanska is thrilled with her Australian Open form, knowing she will have to be at her best to defeat world No.1 Serena Williams in their semi.

Agnieszka Radwanska isn't fully fit but the fourth seed's form is filling her with confidence ahead of an Australian Open semi-final against Serena Williams.

Radwanska became the first woman through to the Open semi-finals on Tuesday, crushing Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1 6-3.

The Pole has failed in her previous eight attempts, including the 2012 Wimbledon final, to defeat world No.1.

"Hopefully I can play my best tennis in the semi, otherwise I will be in big trouble," Radwanska said.

Rarely has Radwanska's best been so good.

The 26-year-old won the season-ending WTA Finals last year, then opened her 2016 campaign with a Shenzhen Open title.

Radwanska suffered a fourth-round scare at Melbourne Park but otherwise is yet to drop a set.

"Couldn't be better so far," Radwanska said, when asked for an assessment of her form.

"In hindsight, yes (winning the 2015 WTA Finals was a boost).

"Especially given you're playing there only against top players ... that give me always more confidence.

"I'm happy to keep it up, playing my best tennis pretty much every match (at the Open)."

Radwanska admitted she is still bothered by a leg injury that forced her to pull out of this month's Sydney International.

"It's getting better but also it's not perfect because I'm still playing," she said.

"So it's hard to get rid of it.

"It's nothing that serious, that I can't run or play so it's ok."

Despite the niggle, Radwanska stepped up her search for a maiden grand slam title by thrashing the Spanish fourth-round conqueror of Australian Daria Gavrilova.

Suarez Navarro didn't hold serve until the match was 18 minutes old - at that point Radwanska boasted a 4-1 lead.

Ten minutes later, Radwanska pocketed the first set.

It wasn't exactly uncharted territory for 10th seed Suarez Navarro.

Twice before in this tournament Suarez Navarro battled back to win after dropping the first set, including her victory over Gavrilova when the local hope bageled her.

She raised hopes of a similar fightback by breaking Radwanska twice early in the second set and finally holding held serve to level it 3-3.

It took a mountain of work.

Six times they went to deuce in an epic 18-point game, during which Suarez Navarro defused three break points and won an sensational 19-stroke rally.

But Radwanska held comfortably, broke for a sixth time in the match and powered into the final four.


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Source: AAP



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