Serena Williams has booked another Australian Open Semi-Final spot after beating Simona Halep with an impressive 6-3 6-3 win at Rod Laver Arena.
The 39-year-old chased down balls defensively with the same ferocity she did earlier in her career.
Williams’ vintage showing so far in the Australian Open has silenced critics who believed her chances of winning another Grand Slam title were slim, with Madrid Open owner Ion Tiriac being one of them.
Late last year, Tiriac made comments about Williams’ physique:
“At this age and the weight she is now, she does not move as easily as she did 15 years ago,” Tiriac said on Romanian TV.
“Serena was a sensational player. If she had a little decency, she would retire.”
Serena displayed improved lateral movements and far better agility compared to what fans saw in Melbourne Park last year.
Following her win, Williams’ husband Alexis Ohanian tweeted:
“Good thing no one listens to that racist sexist (clown) Tiriac.”
Williams’ coach Patrick Mouratoglou admitted this week that her withdrawal from the French Open last year had allowed the 23-time Grand Slam winner to heal and start working hard.
“In Roland Garros she had an injury that could get really worse, and that would have been extremely bad. That was definitely the right decision to stop, to heal, and to start working hard because she was able after that to do the necessary work in order to get fit.
“Now we’re more in a virtuous circle than a vicious one. You have to start that virtuous circle by being fit, then everything goes better.”
Serena will go up against Naomi Osaka in the Semi-Finals.
Both Williams and Osaka are looking forward to the match.
