Sharapova seeking second successive slam

Top seed Maria Sharapova will be out to win back-to-back grand slam titles when she steps out onto the Rod Laver Arena to lock horns with Serena Williams in the Australian Open final on Saturday.

In her semi-final on centre court the Russian crushed Belgian Kim Clijsters’ hopes of a first Australian Open title with a clinical 6-4 6-2 victory at Melbourne Park.

Despite the pair appearing evenly matched prior to the match, it was all Sharapova as she outplayed and outclassed her fourth-seeded opponent.

“I felt like I played a much better match all around today,” said Sharapova, winner of the US Open in September and who will return to world number one next week on the back of her performances in Australia.

“I couldn’t quite get the serve and return together in the beginning, but overall I was really focused.

“I did the right things at the right time. I was patient when I had to be patient, played a smart game.

“She’s probably the toughest opponent and I knew in order to beat her I definitely would have had to step it up.

“Physically I feel good. It’s normal to be sore in some spots after playing six matches – I expect that when I go into a tournament. But that’s normal, I’ve dealt with it before.

“As for serious injuries, so far so good.”

The world number one claimed the first set in 42 minutes, breaking Clijsters three times to assert her authority despite also committing 15 unforced errors.

Then, on the back of an early service break, Sharapova strode out to a 3-1 lead in the second set as she threatened to wrap proceedings up well ahead of the anticipated schedule.

However, just as an easy triumph for the Russian loomed, Clijsters began to make her presence felt.

Serving while up 3-1, Sharapova’s breezy performance began to stutter and the Belgian had the chance to claw back into the contest with several break-point opportunities.

But despite her best efforts, Clijsters was unable to land the desperately-needed killer punch and the top seed managed to hold her service game on the back of some gritty play.

Moments later, and again faced with the chance to break Sharapova’s subsequent service game, Clijsters once more was unable to hit a winning shot.

This proved to be the final straw as the Russian proceeded to break in the next service game to take the match and book her place in the finals for the first time at the Australian Open.

For Clijsters, who is retiring at the end of the year, admitted it was a disappointing end to her career in Australia.

“I have mixed feelings at the moment. It’s kind of not really sinking in yet,” admitted the Belgian.

“Straight after the match you’re just disappointed with the loss. You’re not thinking about all other the stuff.

“I’m going to come back tomorrow and take my time to say goodbye to everybody.”

On the match she added: “I know she (Sharapova) played really well.

“I had a feeling I played a lot better than yesterday, but still not my best tennis. I guess that’s the frustrating part about it.

“I was playing well at times, but she always came up with better things, played more aggressive and served a lot better.”

Sharapova will now meet comeback queen Williams in the final after the American overcame number 10 seed Nicole Vaidisova 7-6 (7-5) 6-4.

Williams, a former two-time Australian Open champion, has struggled since her last title in 2005 but she claimed her place in the final was not a shock.

“I wouldn’t say for me it’s an astonishing achievement. I would say I am happy more than anything,” said the American, who entered this year’s tournament with a world ranking of 81.

“It’s not astonishing or surprising. It’s definitely something I have always expected.

“[To get to the final] rates really high in my list of achievements, especially with my ranking. I think this is the lowest I’ve been ranked getting into a grand slam final.

“I think more than anything that’s really exciting. I just love the competition and love the game.”

Williams appeared to struggle initially on Rod Laver Arena as the in-form Czech fired shots from all over the court to race into a 3-1 lead after breaking the powerful American’s opening service game.

However, while serving for the set at 6-5 the number 10 seed hit an inopportune backhand error to allow Williams to break back.

This proved to be all the momentum the unseeded American needed as she claimed the tie-break shortly after on the back of another unforced error from Vaidisova.

Williams belied her place in the rankings to eventually take the second set but not after she had let a 5-1 lead slip.

Vaidisova fought back as she held off five match points to trail 4-5 but finally, after Williams served an ace to obtain her sixth match point, she finally wrapped up victory.