TENNIS: Australian OpenThe Australian Open, coming so early in the year, is supposed to favour players who have worked hard on their form and fitness during the winter break, thereby giving them an edge over those who have been rather less industrious. Andre Agassi, the four-times champion here, was the classic example. Serena Williams is the exception.
Williams won the title for a second time two years ago when she was patently under-prepared, and now she is one victory away from doing it again.
It is a moot point whose backside has been the most talked about during this tournament; that of Rafael Nadal, and the constant picking of his shorts, or the American's ample wobble.
Tomorrow's women's final will be a repeat of the 2005 semi-final when Maria Sharapova served for the match twice and Williams staved off three match points.
The American went on to win the seventh and last of her grand slam titles, and so badly did she struggle in the early rounds this time that it seemed impossible she would be in a position to add an eighth.
But the Williams are a fighting family, with Venus overturning all logic and form to win her third Wimbledon title in 2005. The more the odds are stacked against them, the more determined is the response of the sisters.
Serena has bridled at the criticism she has received here.
"You don't knock someone when they're down. I understand people have the right to write what they want. You don't just knock someone so hard when they're trying just to make it. I don't think anyone thought I would get this far, except for me and my mom," she said.
Hardly surprising. Last year Williams played only four tournaments, and this month she was knocked out early in the pre-Australian Open event in Hobart.
That she has reached the final speaks volumes for her competitive spirit and determination, while once again underlining the general lack of intelligence and creative ability of the other leading players.
It is understandable that lesser opponents should have been intimidated by Serena's reputation but the response from those supposedly challenging for the title here, including Nadia Petrova, Jelena Jankovic and her semi-final opponent yesterday, Nicole Vaidisova, has been little short of abysmal.
Petrova had chances but melted away when the going became tough, and though Shahar Peer tried everything in the quarter-finals, and like Petrova served for the match, the Israeli also succumbed in the third set.
Yesterday, for a set Vaidisova slammed a series of winners, and even managed a set point, but the 17-year-old Czech's fault lines - the vulnerability of her serve and forehand - were there for all to see and widened horribly in the second set as Williams won 7-6, 6-4.
Yet even in her moment of triumph television mischievously suggested one of Williams's entourage, a guest, had been attempting to dazzle Vaidisova by shining the sun in her eyes off the face of his watch.
The Czech, who was wearing a visor, said she had not noticed anything untoward, while Williams responded by saying any such suggestions were "outrageous . . . as if anyone would do that on purpose".
Sharapova reached her first Australian Open final with a scrappy 6-4, 6-2 victory over Kim Clijsters who, at the ripe old age of 23, is set to retire at the end of the year.
There were no tears from the likeable Belgian and, unfortunately, not many memorable shots.
Clijsters favours Sharapova to win the final, principally because she is thoroughly match-fit and hardened.
"But what I love about Serena is the natural emotions she is showing. That's great and it's good to see her in the final."
The Australian Open organisers would doubtless agree, the women's tour people less so.
Williams has played so few tournaments in the last 13 months that her success here rather makes a mockery of the circuit.
Why play at all if you can get to a grand slam final with virtually no previous match-play?
The Women's Tennis Association argues that their circuit is richer in depth and ability than ever before.
If so, then Williams should not have been able to get to the final with such ease. The fact that she has must be deeply embarrassing.
Australian Open
MEN'S SINGLES: Semi-final: (1) Roger Federer (Swi) bt (6) Andy Roddick (USA) 6-4 6-0 6-2.
WOMEN'S SINGLES: Semi-finals: (1) Maria Sharapova (Rus) bt (4) Kim Clijsters (Bel) 6-4 6-2, Serena Williams (USA) bt (10) Nicole Vaidisova (Cze) 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 .
MEN'S DOUBLES: Semi-finals: (1) Bob Bryan (USA) and Michael Bryan (USA) bt (3) Mark Knowles (Bah) and Daniel Nestor (Can) 2-6 6-3 7-5, (2) Jonas Bjorkman (Swe) and Max Mirnyi (Blr) bt (4) Paul Hanley (Aus) and Kevin Ullyett (Zim) 2-6 7-5 7-6 (10-8).
WOMEN'S DOUBLES: Semi-final: Chin-Wei Chan (Tpe) and Chia-Jung Chuang (Tpe) bt (2) Zi Yan (Chn) and Jie Zheng (Chn) 6-3 6-4
MIXED DOUBLES: Quarter-finals: Max Mirnyi (Blr) and Victoria Azarenka (Blr) bt (1) Bob Bryan (USA) and Lisa Raymond (USA) 6-2 6-1, (4) Jonas Bjorkman (Swe) and Francesca Schiavone (Ita) bt Julian Knowle (Aut) and Tian Tian Sun (Chn) 7-6 (7-3) 6-4.
Daniel Nestor (Can) and Elena Likhovtseva (Rus) bt (3) Leander Paes (Ind) and Samantha Stosur (Aus) 7-6 (7-4) 6-1, (7) Kevin Ullyett (Zim) and Liezel Huber (Rsa) bt Nathan Healey (Aus) and Bryanne Stewart (Aus) 6-4 3-6 7-6 (10-7).
