Australian Open
Safina downs Zvonareva
2009-01-29 09:30
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Melbourne - Russia's Dinara Safina downed fellow Russian Vera Zvonareva 6-3 7-6 (7/4) on Thursday to set up an Australian Open final against Serena Williams.
An incredibly focused Safina was too steady for Zvonareva as she powered to the straight sets win in one hour, 45 minutes.
She reached her second Grand Slam final with the victory and has given herself the chance of emulating older brother Marat in winning the Australian Open.
"I remember watching my brother on TV winning this tournament, and if I still watched it today I would have tears in my eyes," she said.
"It's great that I can follow in his footsteps. He was my idol -- he still is my idol -- and the fact that I'm doing as well as him is amazing."
If Safina wins she will also take over from Jelena Jankovic as the world number one, as will Williams if she wins.
"Since I was growing up my dream was to be the number one in the world," Safina added.
"To play Serena in the final for the number one is unbelievable."
Safina, whose form has fluctuated throughout the tournament, was all business as she took to the court against Zvonareva.
She took advantage of a nervous start from her fellow Russian and broke Zvonareva's serve to love in the opening game.
But Zvonareva soon settled and began to look the more dangerous, breaking Safina in the fourth to get games back on serve.
Zvonareva was landing more first serves than Safina, but they were far less effective.
The world number seven had two chances to break Safina in the sixth game but couldn't convert either and was made to pay in the next game as Safina broke her to love.
Safina then held to make it 5-3 and took the set when she came from 40-0 down on her opponent's serve to break her again and claim the opener in 39 minutes.
Zvonareva recovered her composure at the start of the second and again started to look the more threatening of the two.
She had two more chances to break Safina's first service game and failed, but was able to break in the next game.
However, Safina responded and broke back immediately, winning the game after a wide forehand was called out.
Safina asked for a Hawkeye challenge, which went her way and the umpire awarded her the game, much to the anger of Zvonareva who claimed she would have had a play on the ball if the linesperson hadn't called it out.
The umpire disagreed and a furious Zvonareva came out and attacked Safina's serve, bringing up two more break points, but Safina served her way out of trouble and went ahead 4-3 on serve.
Both players held their next two but at 5-5 Zvonareva attacked with some penetrating ground strokes to break Safina and serve for the set.
But she served a nervous game and dropped her serve to send the set into a tie-break.
Both players served well at the start of the tie-break and it reached 4-4 before Safina got a mini-break on an unforced error from Zvonareva.
She brought up match point and then reached the final with a beautiful forehand cross-court shot that left Zvonareva stranded.