[sc:AUS15-250 ]Did we really expect anything less from Serena Williams here at the 2016 Australian Open? She just won another bout against her achnemesis in Maria Sharapova, and her path towards another Daphne Akhurst Memorial Cup appears as clear as ever.
However, Agnieszka Radwanska stands in her way in the semifinal round and is in terrific shape just as well. Can Williams get rid of the only top 5 player remaining in the tournament this Thursday? Let’s find out more about this thrilling matchup below.
After this, head on over to our previews for Kerber vs. Azarenka and Konta vs. Zhang to be on top of the other Aussie Open matches that will ultimately decide the remaining semifinal showdown in the women’s singles draw.
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Serena Williams vs. Agnieszka Radwanska Betting Preview
Serena Williams further proved this Tuesday that she owns Maria Sharapova on the courts when she defeated the Russian knockout 6-4, 6-1 in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open. The superstar out of Palm Beach has now won 18-consecutive matches against Sharapova, and also her 12th-straight contest in Melbourne Park.
[sc:Other240banner ]Key to Williams’ victory that day was her powerful serve, as she dealt a staggering 18 aces against her rival. The 34-year-old also efficiently converted eight of her 11 attempts at points on net to keep her hopes of a seventh Aussie Open title alive.
Although this is the only tournament that Williams has participated in since her crushing loss at the semifinal round of last year’s US Open, she has been flat out dominant Down Under without missing a step. All of her victories in this event has come in straight sets, with her opponents managing to muster up just one game won in the 10 sets that she has played thus far.
The best women’s tennis player in the world will now face off against Agnieszka Radwanska for the ninth time in her career. Williams has had relative ease in dispatching Radwanska before, having won all eight previous contests. Even more, her last five victories against the Pole came on the hard court, and four of those five were also swept in straight sets.
Betting on Agnieszka Radwanska
Could this be Agneszka Radwanska’s breakout year? She certainly has lived up to her lofty expectations so far after winning last year’s WTA Finals, alright.
On Tuesday, Radwanska coasted towards her fifth career Grand Slam semifinal berth by ousting Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro, 6-1, 6-3, in just 82 minutes. The Polish star committed just 13 unforced errors to Suarez Navarro’s 45, converted six of her 12 break-point opportunities, and put in 69 percent of her first serves in play for the win.
What’s more promising about Radwanska’s 2016 run apart from her blemish-free record in 10 matches is how she has been winning her contests. She cruised through Shenzhen earlier this month for her first title of the year by winning all five matches in straight sets, and only one of her matches here in Melbourne went to the deciding third set.
Although she has yet to triumph over her Williams in eight previous occasions, it’s worth noting that Radwanska’s semifinal opponent’s last win against her was back in 2013. This Thursday’s clash is also their first meeting at the Australian Open, which gives the World No. 4 much more optimism to finally get over that daunting Serena hump.
Writer’s Prediction
Williams deals another straight-sets annihilation, 6-2, 6-3.
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