Talk about sibling rivalry! Sisters Venus, 36, and Serena Williams, 35, will play EACH OTHER for Australian Open title after both turned back the clock to win their way to the final
- Australian Open 2017 final: All the latest tennis news
- Serena and Venus Williams will meet in grand slam final for first time since 2009
- Venus beat Coco Vandeweghe 6-7, 6-2, 6-3 to reach the women's final
- Serena easily accounted for Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 6-2, 6-1 to progress
- Venus has never won the Australian Open but that could change on Saturday
- She is also the oldest woman to make a major final in over two decades
- Serena said it's a 'dream come true' to play in another final with her sister
Serena and Venus Williams will clash in a grand slam title decider for the first time since 2009 after scoring Australian Open semi-final wins.
The all-conquering sisters last squared off for a grand slam crown at Wimbledon in 2009, when Serena prevailed in straight sets.
'For us to both be in the final is the biggest dream come true for us,' Serena said. 'I was really proud of Venus. She's another total inspiration, my big sister.
'She's basically my world and my life. She means everything to me and I was so happy for her obviously.'
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Serena (right) and Venus Williams (left) will clash in a grand slam title decider for the first time since 2009. They will face off in the Australian Open final on Saturday
Serena overwhelmed Mirjana Lucic-Baroni in the second women's semifinal on Thursday
Venus also made it through to the final of the Australian Open on Thursday
Williams can't quite believe it as she makes it through to the final at Melbourne Park
Serena said she is taking nothing for granted ahead of what will be her 29th grand slam final.
'She's my toughest opponent. No one's ever beaten me as much as Venus has,' she said.
'I just feel like no matter what happens, we've won.
'She's been through a lot. I've been through a lot. To see her do so well is great so I look forward to it.'
Serena, a six-time Australian Open winner, overwhelmed Mirjana Lucic-Baroni 6-2, 6-1 in the second women's semifinal in progress to the decider on Thursday.
Venus turned back the clock by beating fellow American Coco Vandeweghe to reach her first grand slam final in since she lost to her sister at Wimbledon eight years ago.
Serena said: 'For us to both be in the final is the biggest dream come true for us'
Williams has never won the Australian Open but that could change on Saturday afternoon
Williams shakes the hand of her opponent Coco Vandeweghe after a thrilling semi-final
Not everything went the former world No 1's way and she lost the first set after a tie-break
Venus is the oldest woman to make a major final since a 37-year-old Martina Navratilova reached the last hurdle at Wimbledon in 1994.
Venus' resurgence is even more remarkable given her prolonged struggle with Sjogren's syndrome - a disorder affecting the immune system - and numerous niggling injuries.
She was forced to withdraw from the first tournament of the year in Auckland earlier this month and arrived with low expectations at Melbourne Park, where she lost in the first round last year to Britain's Johanna Konta.
Her opponent Vandeweghe struggled once Williams had got herself into the lead
Williams struggled against her opponent and found herself being moved about with ease
She was being pushed back and couldn't find a rhythm as Vendeweghe applied the pressure
But Williams wasn't prepared to give up without a fight and she fought back impressively
Her semi-final opponent was also playing her first major semi-final and a nervy start caused an early exchange of breaks before the opening set was settled in a tie-break.
A stinging backhand return gave Venus a 2-1 lead but she then lost five in a row as a driving backhand winner gave Vandeweghe four set points.
Venus saved one but not the next as the veteran edged long to put Vandeweghe one set to the good.
In command, Vandeweghe suddenly went off the boil in the second as a sloppy game ended with her tossing her racket to the floor and Williams breaking for 2-1.
Vandeweghe pumps her fist after winning the first set tie-break to go on set up on Thursday
She remained extremely focused as she took control in the second set of the match
She also found her range again on her first serve and that caused problem for Vendeweghe
There was a second break, this time causing a ball to be blasted out of the stadium, and while Vandeweghe applied some late pressure at 4-1 and 5-2, Williams held on to force a decider.
Vandeweghe left the court to reset but when play resumed, the pattern remained the same, Williams breaking and then denying another two break points, her 11th and 12th saved in the match, to hold.
Try as she might, Vandeweghe could not peg her opponent back and, despite a gutsy hold at 4-2, Williams pounced two games later.
Vandeweghe averted one match point with an ace and then two more, but when a double fault brought up a fourth, Williams was able to watch a forehand drift long and celebrate her triumph.
The 25-year-old was giving a strong account of herself in her first Australian Open semi-final
Vendeweghe fought fiercely for a way back into the match but she couldn't turn it in her favour
Williams looked emotional after sealing her spot in the final for the first time since 2003
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