Serena, Safina to clash in Australian Open final

Serena through to final

Serena Williams has set up a hotly anticipated final with Dinara Safina after both ended their losing streaks against their opponents.

After comfortably taking the first set in her match against Elena Dementieva, Williams had to battle back from a love-3 deficit in the second before she served for the match. Her powerful smash ended the Russian's 15-game unbeaten streak in 2009 and put herself through to the final. For Williams, it was a welcoming end to a losing streak against Dementieva.

Serena Williams said, "Oh, uhm, I definitely wanted to play better than I did the last few times I played her. And, uhm, you know, just wanted to do some different things. The last few times I played her, I didn't play that well and I was stuck, so to say."

Safina overpowers Zvonareva

But there's another Russian who stands between Williams and her fourth title at Melbourne Park: that's Dinara Safina, who also snapped a three-match losing streak against her opponent Vera Zvonareva. Safina hit a crosscourt forehand winner for the match, but her fellow Russian challenged the call. The replay showed the ball was in. So Safina closed out the 6-3, 7-6 win.

DinaraSafinaofRussiareturnstheballduringthewomen's
singlessemifinalmatchagainstVeraZvonarevaofRussiaat
theAustralianOpentennistournamentinMelbourne,Jan.29,
2009.Safinawonthematch2-0.(Xinhua/HanYan)