Tennis: Joyful Williams proves critics wrong

Seventh seed Serena Williams celebrates after winning her semi-final match against fourth seed Russia's Maria Sharapova at the Australian Open today. Picture / Reuters

MELBOURNE - Serena Williams was joy unconfined after a dramatic victory over Maria Sharapova to reach the final of the Australian Open.


The former world number one, who has had to deal with family tragedy, surgery and tough criticism in recent times, saved three match points to win 2-6 7-5 8-6 and exact revenge on the Russian for her defeat in last year's Wimbledon final.


"It's been a tough 12 months and I'm so happy to have won today. I'm so proud of myself," said the American, who plays top seed Lindsay Davenport in the final.


"Those are always the best wins, when you're down match point because it's like you realise that you can't give up. I never give up, but I thought, 'Ok, I definitely don't want to give up now.' "


The close-knit Williams family was hit by tragedy in September 2003 when Yetunde Price, the eldest sister of Serena and Venus Williams, was killed in a shooting incident in Los Angeles.


Off the tour for eight months following her Wimbledon triumph in 2003 -- the last of her six grand slam titles to date -- Williams has struggled to regain the form that took her to the "Serena Slam" of four consecutive grand slam titles in 2002-2003.


Earlier this week, Williams bristled at suggestions that she and sister Venus, who has not won a grand slam title since 2001, were in decline, saying she had nothing to prove.


In 2003 Serena rallied similarly to beat Belgian Kim Clijsters in the semi-finals before going on to take the title


Her win against Sharapova, saving match points for the second time at Melbourne Park, showed her battling qualities were still intact and her love for the game undiminished.


"This is what I love to do," she said. "I love nothing more than walking out there, hearing my name being announced and the crowd goes wild.


"I love that feeling. I love being able to perform and being able to play a sport that's so fun, you can travel the world. I think it's a great, great thing for me. I wouldn't give it up right now for anything."


Williams felt she still had room to improve, however.


"I can't say it was my most satisfying," she said. "I'm only in the final now. I would obviously love to win here, and I've had some pretty satisfying wins in my career.


"I would have not been happy if I had lost because I don't think I played to the best of my ability. I think I was battling Maria and myself. I was playing two opponents because I was making a tremendous amount of errors."


- REUTERS