MELBOURNE, Australia — Agnieszka Radwanska described Serena Williams' first set in their Australian Open semifinal match Thursday as the best performance she has ever faced.
The Polish No. 4 seed looked stunned in the 20-minute opening set at Rod Laver Arena. Williams was impeccable, smashing 18 winners and just four unforced errors while losing only seven points. Williams went on to a 6-0, 6-4 victory to reach her seventh final at Melbourne Park.
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Asked if Williams' first round was the best she had faced, Radwanska admitted she was powerless.
"I think so. There was just no mistake," she said. "Unbelievable serve. Everything, she was going for it. I couldn't do much. Not at all, actually."
Radwanska executed just 54 percent of her first serves in the loss, and Williams took advantage — winning 16 of 24 points against her second serve. The 2012 Wimbledon runner-up, who has now lost all nine meetings against Williams, said the 21-time grand slam champion was simply too good.
"I think the only thing that I could do better is if I put more first serves in, that would help for sure," Radwanska said. "But otherwise I didn't really think that I was playing bad. I think she started unbelievably, with such a power and speed. I was just standing there kind of watching her playing.
"Well, I had my little chance in second set, especially when it was 4-4, but otherwise (Williams was) just too good."