Maria Sharapova gatecrashed Kim Clijsters's farewell party at the Australian Open on Thursday to set up a historic final showdown with Serena Williams.
Comeback queen Williams proved that she still belonged among the elite and doused the youthful exuberance of Czech 10th seed Nicole Vaidisova 7-6 6-4 with a ruthless exhibition of power-hitting.
Sharapova become the first Russian woman to reach the Open final with a 6-4 6-2 victory, thus denying Belgian Clijsters a fairytale run in her last appearance at Melbourne Park.
"I'm going to miss it, it's been a pleasure to come here. It's always a lot of fun and I'm sorry I couldn't come up with a better match today," Clijsters said courtside with a rueful smile as the fans gave her a standing ovation. "I just came up against a better player," she added before leaving the Rod Laver Arena with a final wave.
While Sharapova will be the bookmakers' favourite for the title, seven-times grand slam champion Williams will have the crowd on her side after her stunning passage to Saturday's showpiece match. The American had entered the tournament ranked 81st in the world but proved she still possessed the appetite for winning big titles by trampling over five seeds during the past fortnight.
She needed six match points to kill off the plucky challenge of Vaidisova and greeted her moment of triumph by arching backwards before letting out an almighty roar of relief.
"I'm so excited (about the final) I have nothing to lose, I'm having a lot of fun. I'm back in the top 20 and that means so much to me," squealed the 25-year-old American, champion here in 2003 and 2005. "She played some incredible points on matchpoints, she reminded me a bit of myself. I just tried to stay focused and calm. It was great."
Williams has certainly been incredible herself as not many thought she would survive the first couple of rounds, let alone reach her 10th grand slam final. The players also laughed off suggestions that a male supporter in Williams's entourage had tried to distract Vaidisova with the glare from his watch caused by the reflecting sun. "Ha, ha, ha, ha... that's the most outrageous thing I've ever heard. As if anyone would do that on purpose. That's so funny," Williams told reporters.
Vaidisova added: "I really didn't notice that." On Saturday Williams will be aiming to become only the second unseeded woman to win the Australian Open crown in the professional era after Chris O'Neill achieved the feat in 1978.
To do that she will have to overcome the mighty challenge of world number one elect Sharapova as she looks to win the one major trophy that has so far slipped through the grasp of the Russian women.
The US Open champion had won just two of her six previous meetings with Clijsters but did not let that, or sentimentality, blur her focus on Thursday. She turned villain in front of "Aussie Kim's" adopted fans as she shoved the popular Belgian towards the exit with a dogged display from the baseline.
Clijsters had gained the first break in the match to nose ahead 2-1 and stretched it to 4-3 in the first set but from then on her game became unhinged. The fourth seed lost her serve two more times and surrendered the set as she scooped a forehand into the net.
Despite fluffing numerous break points in the second set, Sharapova stood firm and slammed the door shut after 83 minutes by cracking a sizzling forehand down the line on match point. "Serena came into this tournament without any expectations. She is playing great tennis and she has won many of these titles before but I will look forward to playing her," said Sharapova."
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