Williams sisters set to face each other in Australian Open final

World
Europe

Serena Williams ended fairy tale run of Mirjana Lucic-Baroni at the Australian Open on Thursday with a crushing 6-2 6-1 win that set up a final against her sister Venus.

The world number two was back at her best at the Rod Laver Arena, charging out of the blocks to give the 79th-ranked Croatian no quarter and cruising to victory in 50 minutes.

Serena Williams celebrates winning her women's singles semi-final match against Croatia's Mirjana Lucic-Baroni at the 2017 Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia on January 26, 2017. /Reuters Photo

Serena, a six-time Melbourne Park champion, wrapped up the match when Lucic-Baroni slammed a shot into the net. The American superstar reached her 29th grand slam final, where she will bid for a 23rd major title.

Earlier on Thursday, her older sister, Venus Williams, drew on the experience of 73 Grand Slam campaigns to rally from a set down for a 6-7(3) 6-2 6-3 victory over fellow American Coco Vandeweghe.

Venus Williams celebrates winning her women's singles semi-final match against Coco Vandeweghe of the US at the 2017 Australian Open in Melbourne, Australia on January 26, 2017. /Reuters Photo

The 36-year-old sealed the win when Vandeweghe went long after 146 minutes on Rod Laver Arena to reach her second Melbourne Park final, 14 years after she lost her first to Serena in 2003.

Serena Williams (R) beats Venus Williams in the women’s singles final of the 2003 Australian Open. /Photo via Ausopen.com

On Saturday, the Williams sisters will meet again in their first Grand Slam final since Wimbledon in 2009, which Serena won in two sets.

(Source: Reuters)

9139km