Up for grabs was the chance to play in a first grand slam final for Angelique Kerber and Johanna Konta.
It was only natural that a few nerves would be exhibited by both players in a topsy-turvy opening set of the Australian Open semi final.
Kerber, the German seventh seed, landed the first significant blows, taking the first three games on the back of two breaks, but Konta, the Australian born underdog who represents Great Britain after moving there at 14, fought back with two breaks of her own.
The next move could – and would – change the match.
Kerber found her groove to take away the first set and it broke Konta’s resolve.
More settled in her own game and with all of the momentum, Kerber did it much easier in the second set, wrapping it up in 33 minutes after having toiled for a nervy 49 in the prior set,.
Kerber ran out with a 7-5 6-2 win in 1 hour and 22 minutes.
“I think the nerves, yeah, that was actually the big challenge for me today,” Kerber said. “It was a tough match today because also mentally I played a very good match against Vika [Victoria Azarenka] yesterday, and I knew today I must go out there and play again good, be aggressive. I knew also that she beat a lot of good players this two weeks and it will be not easy.
“But I handle it and I handle also my nerves actually in the beginning of the match.
“It feels really good to be for my first time in the final.”
Having watched the previous semi final be a blink-and-you-will-miss affair, the fans who paid good money to be at Rod Laver Arena wanted to see a contest in the second semi final.
That is exactly what they got in the first set.
Konta’s racquet strength was showing through on ground strokes, as Kerber was constantly forced deep behind the baseline in rallies.
But the Brit’s inability to make her bigger serve count against a superb returner, coupled with errors at crucial times, saw the pendulum swing in the favour of Kerber.
Kerber committed just 11 unforced errors to Konta’s 36 and with that Konta’s dream of a grand slam final berth evaporated.
“I played against a better player today who earned her right into a grand slam final,” Konta said. “That’s how I view it. She played a really, really good match. That’s why she is the winner and I’m not today.”
Kerber exhibited a better all-round game, demonstrating the difference between her and a player 40 ranking spots below.
The left hander hit the big winners at key times and was unpredictable, digging into her deeper bag of tricks to keep Konta on her toes.
Kerber had success from the baseline and when she went to the net, turning five of six net approaches into winners.
How Kerber’s game stacks up against Serena Williams, who she will meet in Saturday’s final, is the question that remains to be answered.
Serena Williams had the eye of the tiger against Agnieszka Radwanska. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)
Kerber will go into the match with a “nothing to lose mentality”, but safe in the knowledge she has beaten Williams before.
“I think she will have respect,” Kerber said. “I think she will go out there and she know that she must play also good tennis to beat me. I’m feeling good. I’m healthy. I’m fit. I will try to win against her. That’s for sure. I know it will be not easy.”
Williams, the world No. 1, bullied her semi final opponent Agnieszka Radwanska in a 6-0 6-4 mauling.
Williams breezed through the first set in just 20 minutes before Radwanska showed a bit of fight in the second set to stretch the match out beyond an hour.
Williams showed that she still has no peer at 34. Arguably the best sportswoman on the planet, the superstar from the US has won four of the last five grand slams, including three of the four in 2015.
Williams has 21 grand slam titles to her name, including six Australia Opens.
She sits third on the list of women’s grand slam winners behind Australia’s Margaret Court (24) and Germany’s Steffi Graf (22).
There must be a burning desire for Williams to climb to the top, but she is not letting on about it.
“I definitely block it out,” Williams said “I was one off last year, too. If I don’t win on Saturday, I’ll still be one off. It took me forever to get to 18. I was so stressed out. I don’t want to relive that at all.”
2016 Australian Open
WOMEN’S SINGLES
Quarter finals
Serena Williams d Maria Sharapova 6-1 6-3
Agnieszka Radwanska d Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1 6-3
Angelique Kerber d Victoria Azarenka 6-3 7-5
Johanna Konta d Shuai Zhang 6-4 6-1
Semi finals
Serena Williams d Agnieszka Radwanska 6-0 6-4
Angelique Kerber d Johanna Konta 7-5 6-2
Final
Serena Williams v Angelique Kerber
MEN’S SINGLES
Quarter finals
Novak Djokovic d Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-2 6-4
Roger Federer d Tomas Berdych 7-6 6-2 6-4
Milos Raonic d Gael Monfils 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4
Andy Murray d David Ferrer 6-3 6-7 6-2 6-3
Semi finals
Novak Djokovic v Roger Federer
Andy Murray v Milos Raonic
