Melbourne: Defending champion Serena
Williams said she was feeling no pressure ahead of Saturday's
Australian Open final against sentimental favourite Justine
Henin.
Williams battled her way into the decider when she won a
thrilling semi-final against China's Li Na 7-6 (7/4), 7-6
(7/1) in two hours on Thursday.
By contrast Henin cruised through in just 52 minutes with
a 6-1, 6-0 thrashing of Zheng Jie.
The Belgian is playing her first Grand Slam since making
a return to tennis and is riding a wave of emotion and
passionate crowd support as she tries to emulate fellow
Belgian Kim Clijsters, who won the 2009 US Open on her
comeback.
Her meeting with Williams has been highly anticipated
ever since the draw was made, but the world number one claimed
she wasn't even thinking about the final.
"I don't think about it, I just go out and do whatever I
can," said Williams, the top seed. "I have a doubles final (on
Friday), so I'm pretty focused on that."
Williams did concede she enjoyed playing the Belgian.
"I think we bring out the best game in each other," she
said. "I think that we both just play our hearts out -- I
think that's what creates a good rivalry."
Williams has now had two long and brutal singles matches
in a row and two doubles matches that lasted almost as long.
She and sister Venus play the doubles final against top
seeds Cara Black and Liezel Huber on Friday.
Williams looked tired in her match with Li but said she
was feeling fine, despite taking to the court with both
ankles, her right knee and left thigh heavily strapped.
She said her doubles commitments helped, rather than
hindered her.
"I don't think it's flattened me, I think it's helped
me," she said. "You know, I get a lot of extra practice, so
... I think I spent a lot of time on the court.”
"But, you know, I like being out there."
She showed her legendary fighting qualities as she saw
off 16th seeded Li, who played superbly throughout and saved
four match points before Williams claimed victory with her
12th ace.
The world number one, who came back from the brink of
defeat in a gruelling quarter-final against Victoria Azarenka,
will be aiming to win her 12th Grand Slam title and her fifth
Australian Open.
She is also hoping to become the first player to
successfully defend her title since Jennifer Capriati in 2002
But Williams had to fight hard against a determined Li,
who pushed her all the way in both sets and did not look
overawed at making her first Grand Slam semi-final.
The American was saved time and again by her huge serve
and it was fitting that she won the first set and the match
with aces.
Bureau Report
First Published: Friday, January 29, 2010, 13:31