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Serena Williams and Dinara Safina will slug it out for grand slam spoils and the world No.1 ranking on Saturday night after sweeping into the Australian Open final.
Eyeing her fourth Open crown, Williams ended Elena Dementieva’s 15-match winning streak with a 6-3 6-4 success before Safina outclassed fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-3 7-6 (7-4) in Thursday’s second semi-final.
Both matches were played under a closed roof at Rod Laver Arena after officials acted early to implement the extreme heat policy on another baking hot day in Melbourne, where temperatures reached 44 degrees.
While the second-seeded Williams will be chasing a 10th grand slam title in her fourth Open decider, Safina – who saved two match points in the fourth round against Alize Cornet – has an even sweeter incentive.
Victory over Williams would complete two family doubles unprecedented in tennis.
The 22-year-old would join older brother Marat, who triumphed over Lleyton Hewitt in the 2005 men’s final, in winning the Open and also emulate his feat of reaching the top of the rankings.
No brother-sister combination has ever achieved either.
“I watched my brother on TV winning this tournament and even if I was to watch it now I would have tears in my eyes,” Safina said after backing up her quarter-final win over Australian wildcard Jelena Dokic.
“It is great that I can follow in his footsteps because he was my idol, and he is still my idol.
“That I’m doing as well as him is just amazing. It was his birthday two days ago; so now I have earned some money to a gift for him.”
Williams, the most dominant player of her generation, has had several stints at world No.1.
Safina, though, has never reached the summit, having began the tournament at a career-high No.3 after snaring four titles from seven finals in 2008.
“Since I was growing up it has been my dream to be one day No.1,” Safina said.
“To play against Serena and to fight for the No.1 is just going to be unbelievable.”
Williams, who has lost just twice at Melbourne Park in six visits since 2003, said landing a 10th major would mean more than regaining the top ranking from Serbian Jelena Jankovic, a third-round casualty this Open.
“My goal isn’t to be No.1; my goal is to obviously now win one more match here at the Australian Open,” the second seed and reigning US Open champion said. “Right now, (No.1) would be just a bonus.
“I’m just excited that I’m playing really consistent consistently, at least making it to the finals of grand slams. So that’s exciting, too.”
Williams holds a 5-1 edge over Safina head-to-head and thumped the Russian 6-4 6-1 in their most recent meeting, at the season-ending champions in Doha last November.
But the 27-year-old refused to take another win over her fast-rising rival for granted.
“Safina’s playing well. She seems to never die,” Williams said.
“So she’s doing a great job. She’s going to be a tough opponent. She obviously wants to win.
“She’s playing amazing and she wants to win a grand slam and go for the glory.”
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