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Australian Open: No stress for Serena, Kerber protects Graf

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Serena Williams is ignoring her bid for grand slam number 22 at the Australian Open, while Angelique Kerber is keen to protect Steffi Graf's record.

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We look at the talking points from Melbourne.

STRESS-FREE SERENA

Her semi-final win over Agnieszka Radwanska took her a step closer to a 22nd grand slam title, but Williams would prefer not to know.

If she beats Angelique Kerber in the final on Saturday, it would take her equal with Steffi Graf and behind only Margaret Court (24).

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But she remembers the stress of getting to 18 – matching Chris Evert and Martina Navratilova – that the number is best forgotten.

"I definitely block it out. I was one off last year, too," Williams said.

"If I don't win on Saturday, I'll still be one off.

"It took me forever to get to 18. I was so stressed out. I don't want to relive that at all."

PROTECTING STEFFI

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Standing between Williams and number 22 is Kerber, the German seventh seed who overcame Johanna Konta.

But Kerber is eager to protect Graf's record and stop Williams from joining her in second on the all-time list.

"The Germans must be together," she said.

TOMIC IMPRESSING

There is plenty of attention on Bernard Tomic's younger sister, Sara, who reached the junior girls' singles semi-finals at Melbourne Park on Thursday.

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Sara, 17, beat fellow Australian Baijing Lin 6-1 5-7 6-2 on court six to continue her fine run.

It has been eight years since Bernard won the juniors in Melbourne and Sara is on track to match her brother's feat.

RADWANSKA'S SHOPPING SPREE

There was almost nothing Radwanska could do to stop Williams, who blitzed their semi-final 6-0 6-4.

It marked a fifth grand slam semi for the Pole and fourth loss, having made it to the Wimbledon decider in 2012.

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So, just how does she reward herself?

"I didn't really think about it," Radwanska said. "But, yeah, why not [buy something]? This is the semis, so it's not bad."

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