Australian Open: Serena seeks 19th Grand Slam title

 Serena Williams, the five-time Australian Open champion, is through to her sixth final after beating a spirited Madison Keys 7-6 (5) 6-2.

Williams produced a sterling defensive performance to subdue teenage compatriot and set up
an Australian Open final with Maria Sharapova, that will take her (Williams) Grand Slam title to 19 if she wins tomorrow.

The all-American semi-final burned bright from the moment 19-year-old Keys claimed a break in the opening game with a scintillating attacking display. She ended the match with 12 aces and 27 winners – eight more than Williams – but 39 unforced errors, more than twice as many as the world number one, undid her in the end.

“She pushed me really hard in that first set and I had to dig deep mentally to get through that,” admitted Williams, who gave Keys a warm hug at the net following the one-hour, 24-minute contest. “She’s a great player – I think she’s going to be winning this event soon, and many other Slams.”

Meanwhile, Sharapova needed one hour and 27 minutes to beat fellow Russian and 10th seed Ekaterina Makarova 6-3, 6-2.

The World number two however, has a 2-16 record against Williams and has not beaten the American since 2004.

“I think my confidence should be pretty high going into a final of a Grand Slam, no matter who I’m facing and whether I’ve had a terrible record - to say the least - against someone,” said the 2008 champion.

“It doesn’t matter. I got there for a reason. I belong in that spot. I will do everything I can to get the title.”

Williams said: “Maria is playing great. She’s in the tournament only because she’s a fighter and only because she refuses to give up.

“So it’s a new match. She has nothing to lose, once again. She has only things to gain. And I feel that way too.”