This time, Serena Williams did not blink. Having been fortunate to escape her quarterfinal match against Russian Svetiana Kuznetsova and having lost to semifinal opponent Elena Dementieva the last three times they played, Serena Williams arrived at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne with icy resolve. Displaying a power game, Serena took Elena’s best shots and did not buckle under the pressure. Prior to the match, many pundits thought the colorful and fourth seeded Dementieva was playing the best tennis at Melbourne.

Serena is certainly more comfortable under the controversial retractable roof at Rod Laver Arena. On a day when the heat kept many Australians at home, Serena started effectively but not convincingly. In the opening games, both players struggled to hold serve. It was apparent that this semifinal matchup would be a battle of wills and serves.

In the end, Dementieva’s serve was her downfall. Williams was never pressured but the Russian’s first serve and, in fact, often attacked first serves to her forehand. On Elena’s second serves, Williams continually moved inside the baseline and drove deep volleys that kept Dementieva well behind the baseline. As tour players know, it is virtually impossible to overtake Serena from behind the baseline.

Dementieva played consistently only committing 28 unforced errors compared to 34 by Serena. Williams hit 27 outright winners. More importantly, each time Dementieva mounted a charge, Serena had a deep groundstroke or a power serve to stave off the offensive.

When Serena wins, the matches do not always look graceful. They take on the appearance of a prize fight. Today, she committed to a more graceful, fluid style of play. In post match interviews, Serena cited Elena’s ability to hit winners while on the move. Serena set a strategy that called for her to move more aggressively than in her recent matches.

Dementieva was repeatedly forced to move laterally behind the baseline. Her inability to get into the court cost the graceful Russian the match. To capture her fourth Australian Open, Serena will need all her guile against another proven Russian performer and the number three seed Dinara Safina.

The top bracket of the women’s draw has been dominated by the regal Dinara Safina, whose sleek, well-honed look has added punch to her game. The 6’0” hard-hitting Safina has reached the finals of the Australian Open for the first time and hopes win her first Grand Slam with a strong performance against Serena.

The 2009 Australian Open has been Dinara’s most focused Grand Slam in her illustrious career. Safina’s dynamic backhand is the pillar of her game. Against her inspired Russian teammate, Vera Zvonareva, Safina pressed the early action. Despite her aggressive play, the two exchanged breaks to knot the set at 3-3. Dinara then broke at love in game seven. She then served out the set.

The semifinal match seemed headed for a quiet ending when Dinara suddenly lost her concentration. She began to hit wayward backhands and allowed the seventh seed to creep back into the match. At a critical point of the second set, Vera was denied an appeal to the umpire. Zvonareva and the crowd vigorously protested the ruling but the umpire refused to yield. Safina was awarded a key point and the set proceeded to 5-5.

Vera pressed forward and broke Safina to take a 6-5 lead. Dinare managed to save the set with two ferocious backhand winners. In the tiebreaker, Safina charged to a 7-4 win. After the match, Dinara was complimentary of Vera’s play. To beat Williams and claim her first Grand Slam title, Safina will need to be forceful and consistent throughout the match.