Serena Williams is on a mission, a mission to earn a double figure in slams. The nine time grand slam champion thinks this is motivation enough for her on Saturday's final when she locks horns with the next big thing Dinara Safina. With both women stepping on court with an equal chance to clinch the No.1 ranking, it will be a contest that will be remembered for a long time. The first history that Williams created was the 'Serena-Slam' that she earned here in Melbourne park six years ago. And so it will be no wonder that the courts will prove lucky for her again. Just as they did so today in her semifinal win over Elena Dementieva, whose 15 match winning streak was broken by fiesty American. In the 6-3, 6-4 demolition of the Russian, Williams looked in a commanding position throughout and denied Dementieva her first ever Aussie Open final.
Her opponent in the final is the new improved Dinara Safina, who reached her second grand slam final after a dream run at Roland Garros last year. Safina dispatched Zvonareva's bid for the first career slam final by eliminating her Fed-cup team-mate 6-3, 7-6(4). The second set saw some resistance from WTA championships finalist, but it was Safina who cruised to a big lead in the tiebreak to seal the victory. If Safina wins, she will become the second Russian after Sharapova to beat Williams in a grand slam final. Serena boasts of a tremendous grand slam final win-loss record of 9-3 with the other two losses handed by elder sister Venus Williams.
Whatever the result maybe, Monday's Sony Ericsson WTA singles rankings will witness the crowning of a new queen.
Roger Federer, on the other hand looks as determined as a five year old kid slugging it out at the play station with his mates. When he appears in his fourth consecutive grand slam final, he will attempt to emulate Sampras's record of 14 grand slam titles.
The semifinal proved to be an easy affair for swiss star as he taught Roddick another frustrating lesson winning 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 to secure his final berth. In a match watched by the great Rod Laver, Federer simply overwhelmed Roddick with his precision and power tied in one to deliver a superb performance.
The other finalist of Sunday's title match will be decided tomorrow when Rafael Nadal will try to stop countryman Fernando Verdasco's best run at a major.
Her opponent in the final is the new improved Dinara Safina, who reached her second grand slam final after a dream run at Roland Garros last year. Safina dispatched Zvonareva's bid for the first career slam final by eliminating her Fed-cup team-mate 6-3, 7-6(4). The second set saw some resistance from WTA championships finalist, but it was Safina who cruised to a big lead in the tiebreak to seal the victory. If Safina wins, she will become the second Russian after Sharapova to beat Williams in a grand slam final. Serena boasts of a tremendous grand slam final win-loss record of 9-3 with the other two losses handed by elder sister Venus Williams.
Whatever the result maybe, Monday's Sony Ericsson WTA singles rankings will witness the crowning of a new queen.
Roger Federer, on the other hand looks as determined as a five year old kid slugging it out at the play station with his mates. When he appears in his fourth consecutive grand slam final, he will attempt to emulate Sampras's record of 14 grand slam titles.
The semifinal proved to be an easy affair for swiss star as he taught Roddick another frustrating lesson winning 6-2, 7-5, 7-5 to secure his final berth. In a match watched by the great Rod Laver, Federer simply overwhelmed Roddick with his precision and power tied in one to deliver a superb performance.
The other finalist of Sunday's title match will be decided tomorrow when Rafael Nadal will try to stop countryman Fernando Verdasco's best run at a major.
