By Bill Scott Jan 25, 2007, 11:40 GMT
Melbourne - Maria Sharapova fulfilled her top seeding as she defeated Kim Clijsters 6-4, 6-2 on Thursday to set up a final at the Australian Open against two-time champion Serena Williams.
Maria Sharapova of Russia returns to Kim Clijsters of Belgium in their women's semi finals at the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Thursday 25 January 2007. Sharapova won 6-4, 6-3. EPA/BARBARA WALTON
Sharapova, winner of Wimbledon and the US Open, stands 2-2 against the American.
A shaky Williams came close to throwing away a 5-1 lead in the second set but somehow struggled past Nicole Vaidisova 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 to reach a third final at Melbourne Park.
A post-match drama erupted after television coverage showed a man in the Williams entourage flashing his watch in the sun towards the court whenever Vaidisoav served.
The beaten Czech said she took no notice of the presumed gamesmanship: 'I didn't see that, I tried to focus,' said the tenth seed 'I didn't pay attention to anything, I really didn't notice that.'
Williams, holder of seven Grand Slam titles, came to the event on an 81st ranking after playing only four times in 2006.
She nervously laughed off the incident: 'Ha-ha-ha-ha. That's the most outrageous thing I've ever heard. As if anyone would do that on purpose. I think everyone wears watches these days, except for me.'
Clijsters waved an emotional goodbye to the crowd at the Rod Laver arena as she played her last match at the tournament. The 23-year-old is due to marry in the summer and plans to quit the game by season's end.
'I'm sad to be leaving,' said the Belgian affectionately dubbed 'Aussie Kim' when she was engaged to Lleyton Hewitt. 'I'm gonna miss it here.
'It's kind of not really sinking in yet,' she added. 'I'm going to come back tomorrow and take my time to say good-bye to everybody.
'It's been a pleasure playing all over Australia. I'm sorry about the match, but I couldn't come up with a better match. I was facing a better player.
'I'll definitely come back here. I love to watch tennis, maybe in a few years maybe I'll be sitting in the stands with some kids.'
Sharapova came out on top in a roller-coaster opening set, punctuated by five breaks of serve.
The 19-year-old Russian took a 3-1 lead over the Belgian in the second set, saving a break point in the fifth game brought on by a sixth double-fault before moving ahead.
'I'm going to be playing against a player that didn't really expect too much coming into this tournament,' said Sharapova.
'She's playing some really good tennis. I think she has nothing to lose going into the match. Those are always dangerous opponents.'
Sharapova broke five times, while Clijsters was unable to convert on ten of her 12 opportunities.
Williams bludgeoned through the first set against Vaidisova in 58 minutes as she managed to edge out tenth-seeded Czech.
The tenacious teenager saved five match points over two games in the second set before Williams fired off a tenth ace to earn a sixth chance. This one finally came good as the American put over a winner.
Williams won the Melbourne title in 2003 and 2005, going out in the third round last year.
Williams advanced with 15 enforced errors and 23 winners. Vaidisova put her under pressure with a fightback from 1-5 down in the second which came close to succeeding.
The unseeded American ran out of computerised linecall challenges in the second set, a tactical mistake which cost her on the fifth match point.
A Vaidisova return was called in, but television replays showed it wide. Williams was unable to challenge the call. Vaidisova broke four times, Williams five.
'I struggled on that a little bit today,' said the Czech, who also lost a French Open semi-final last season. 'I needed to keep the ball in play much more than I did.
'I was trying to go for a winner or easy shot too early. I think that was a little mistake.'
Despite coming in without a seeding and 20 spots inside the Top 100, Williams said she expected nothing less from herself.
'I wouldn't say for me it's an astonishing achievement,' said the seven-time Grand Slam winner. 'I'm happy more than anything.
'It's not astonishing or surprising, it's definitely something I have always expected.'
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