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SPORTS Friday 27 January 2017
Williams sisters, Federer advance to Australian Open finals

JOHN PYE out onto Rod Laver Are-
AP Sports Writer na, it will be as the oldest
MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) player in the Open era to
— Win or lose, Serena Wil- contest an Australian Open
liams sees another all-sister women’s final. She’ll be the
final at the Australian Open oldest finalist at any major
as cause for celebration. since Martina Navratilova’s
The 35-year-old Williams ar- run to the Wimbledon final
rived in Australia bidding in 1994.
for a 23rd Grand Slam title, Venus has lost six of her
aiming to break the Open- eight Grand Slam finals
era record she shares with against her younger sister,
Steffi Graf. By winning, and is 11-16 overall in their
she’d also regain the No. tour-level career matches.
1 ranking she lost after her But Serena noted that no-
U.S. Open semifinal exit. body has beaten her more
She doesn’t enjoy the sus- than her older sister — their
pense, or talk about the sibling rivalry is friendly, but
number. Her older sister, goes a long way back.
Venus, knows that better “When I’m playing on the
than anyone after their two court with her, I think I’m
decades of competing to- playing, like, the best com-
gether in the majors. petitor in the game,” Ve-
Now the 36-year-old Venus United States’ Serena Williams, left, celebrates after defeating Croatia’s Mirjana Lucic-Baroni; nus said. “I don’t think I’m
is the potential roadblock, United States’ Venus Williams, right, pauses while playing compatriot Coco Vandeweghe during chump change, either. I
their semifinal at the Australian Open tennis championships in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday,
back in a major final for the Jan. 26, 2017. can compete against any
first time since she lost the Associated Press odds. No matter what.
previous all-Williams Grand “You also have to hope-
Slam final at Wimbledon in fully put your opponent in
2009. a box,” she added. “This
“I just feel like no mat- opponent is your sister, and
ter what happens, we’ve she’s super awesome.”
won,” Serena said. “A Wil- After winning four straight
liams is going to win this majors up to Wimbledon
tournament.” 2015 to get within one of
Venus hasn’t added to Graf’s record, Serena lost
her seven major titles since in the semifinals at the U.S.
Wimbledon in 2008, but is Open and then finals in
in her best form since be- Melbourne last year and
ing diagnosed with ener- at Roland Garros before
gy-sapping Sjogren’s syn- equaling the mark back on
drome in 2011. the grass courts of south-
In fact, she was the first Wil- west London. Serena ac-
liams into the 2017 final, ral- knowledged Lucic-Baroni,
lying to beat 25-year-old who was playing in her first
CoCo Vandeweghe — the semifinal match at a major
only player in the women’s since Wimbledon in 1999,
semifinals who was younger as an inspiration for her
than 34 — 6-7 (3), 6-2, 6-3. comeback to the highest
A jubilant Venus could level after years of struggle.
barely contain her emo- Lucic-Baroni took a selfie as
tions after clinching a spot she left the stadium, hoping
in the final on her fourth beat fourth-seeded Stan months out to rest his in- matter who’s across the to capture the moment.
match point, putting her Wawrinka 7-5, 6-3, 1-6, 4-6, jured left knee, will next net, but I understand the Then Serena turned her at-
hands to her face, her 6-3 in an all-Swiss night play Sunday against either magnitude of the match tention to Venus, who was
jaw dropping, before she match to became the old- 14-time major champion against Nadal. seeded 13th, for overcom-
crossed her arms over her est man to reach a Grand Rafael Nadal and Grigor “I’ll leave it all out here in ing the odds, too.
heart and did a stylish pir- Slam final since Ken Rose- Dimitrov. Australia and if I can’t walk “Obviously I was really
ouette. wall made the 1974 U.S. With the Williams locked in for another five months, proud of Venus,” Serena
Feeling like “it was in my Open final at 39, they were for Saturday night, expec- that’s OK.” said, explaining how the
hands to force this Williams calling it Throwback Thurs- tations are rising for another The all-Williams final will be siblings will continue their
final” in the subsequent day at Melbourne Park. vintage Roger-Rafa bout. the first in Melbourne since relationship as per usual
match, six-time Australian Three players who can “It’s going to be special ei- 2003, when Serena won ahead of the final. “She’s
Open champion Serena combine for 46 Grand Slam ther way — one is going to what Venus has described basically my world and my
overwhelmed 34-year-old titles and 106 years in age go for his first slam or it’s the as a “battle royale.” life. I was so happy for her.
Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 6-2, advanced to the a final epic battle with Rafa,” Fe- Venus hasn’t returned to For us both to be in the final
6-1. one after the other. derer said. “All I care about the Australian final since is the biggest dream come
By the time Roger Federer Federer, returning from six is that I can win. Doesn’t then. And when she walked true.”q