Serena Williams has continued her pursuit of a record seventh Australian Open singles title with a straight-sets quarter-final win over Johanna Konta.
Serena Williams at the 2017 Australian Open. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Williams had too much firepower for the British ninth seed, winning 6-2 6-3 in 75 minutes at Melbourne Park.
The 22-times grand slam champion will play unseeded Croat Mirjana Lucic-Baroni on Thursday, with the victor to play either Serena's sister Venus or fellow American CoCo Vandeweghe in Saturday's final.
Konta had been riding a nine-match winning streak entering her first career meeting with Williams, who admitted to being on guard against the WTA Tour's most improved player.
"She s been playing so well. She's been cleaning up her matches. I've been watching her in the locker room," Williams said.
"She's definitely a future champion here. I was just really happy to get through that.
"I just really tried to enjoy the moment out here and I did."
In advancing to her 10th consecutive grand slam semi-final, the 35-year-old also completed the oldest Australian Open women's last-four line-up in 40 years.
Before Williams takes on 34-year-old Lucic-Baroni, her older sister Venus, 36, will face fellow American CoCo Vandeweghe, a relative spring chicken at 25, in Thursday's first semi-final.
"It's really amazing. Thirty is the new 10," said Williams, who labelled Lucic- Baroni's revival as inspiring.
The Croatian last reached the semi-finals of a major as a teenager back in 1999.
"I'm so proud of Mirjana. She's been playing so well," Williams said.
"We played well over a decade ago. Oh my god, over two decades ago.
"No matter who wins, someone older than 34 will be in the final and that's just great."
-AAP
