A fired-up Serena Williams shot down last year’s finalist Dominika Cibulkova Wednesday to set up an Australian Open semi-final with teen Madison Keys, as defending men’s champion Stan Wawrinka crushed Japanese hopes.
Unlike her earlier sluggish matches, Serena was in the zone from the off against the dangerous Slovak, a steely look in her eyes as she walked onto Rod Laver Arena soon after fellow American Keys knocked out her sister Venus.
The powerful world number one blasted 15 aces to pummel the 11th seed 6-2, 6-2 in just over an hour and make her 26th Grand Slam semi-final. She has gone on to win 18 major titles.
“I feel I played well, I felt I had to. I feel like when you’re going up against a player like that who is confident on the court … I knew that I needed to really play well or go home,” said Serena, who has been battling a cold.
Long-time rival Maria Sharapova made the last four on Tuesday and will face fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova.
The unseeded Keys, 19, is the tournament surprise package, fighting hard to beat a resurgent Venus 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 and end any chance of the sisters meeting in a Grand Slam semi for the first time since Wimbledon 2000.
Keys did the job despite carrying a left thigh injury, needing a medical timeout in the second set for treatment.
“I think just being able to come back from being down and from not being able to move as well … just being able to kind of grind through that, still manage to win some points, is what I’m most happy about,” she said.
Wawrinka shattered the dream of Japanese superstar Kei Nishikori, but not before blowing five match points in a tiebreaker as nerves got the better of him.
The Swiss fourth seed finally won 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) to deprive the fifth seed of a crack at another final, having made the US Open decider last year.
He will now play world number one Novak Djokovic, who is gunning for a fifth Australian title, or big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic, for a spot in Sunday’s final.
Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych are already through to a semi-final showdown after beating Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal respectively on Tuesday.
“It’s going to be a tough one in the semi, but I’m playing well so I am just happy to be back again playing in the semi-final,” said the Swiss.
– Ominous sign –
In an ominous sigh for Keys, Serena has made the last four in Melbourne five times before and gone on win the championship each time.
But Keys, now coached by former Australian champion Lindsay Davenport, is undaunted.
“It’s just one of those things where I have to go out and I have to do my best and I have to really just stay focused on my side of the court,” she said.
“Because she’s obviously very, very good and she’s going to play very well.”
Keys is seen as one of the new generation to take up the mantle from the Williams sisters and Venus was generous in her praise.
“I give a lot of credit to her because she really set her points up. She was swinging freely. Most of them went in for her,” said the 34-year-old, a childhood idol of Keys.
“So it was just great for her.”
Despite the defeat, Venus is expected to move as high as 11 in the world rankings following her best run at a Grand Slam since 2010 coupled with winning the lead-up Auckland Classic.
“It’s definitely been a great last four weeks. A lot of match wins, a lot of momentum, just a lot of great things happening that everybody wants to happen in their career,” she said.