Serena Williams avenged the loss taken by her sister in winning a tight 7-6 (4), 7-6 (1) straight set match with China’s surprising semifinalist Na Li. Once again, Williams fought through adversity. This time, her physical ailments were plainly visible. With a taped thigh, a taped calf muscle and a wrapped ankle, the top seed had both moments of brilliance and moments of despair in this one.

Li sensed the struggles across the court and, after an initial burst of nervous errors, settled into a higher level of play. But, as Williams did in her battle with Victoria Azarenka, when the 11-time Grand Slam champion needed to raise her game, it was there for her.

Determined not to fall behind early, Serena Williams stormed from the locker room and broke Li in her first service game. Li was struggling to maintain the pace as Williams blistered shots deep to the baseline and down the lines. Once the fire subsided, Li began to get into the points actually adding some pace herself.

Williams showed frustration with her own erratic play. In the first set, Serena committed 12 unforced errors, but it was clear that Li could not handle the American’s first serve. Along with her 12 aces, Williams converted on 86% of the first serves landed successfully. Li’s inability to get into the points relieved the pressure on Serena’s ailing body.

Meanwhile, Williams only was able to convert on one of nine break point opportunities, including four match points at 5-6 in the second. In efforts to shorten the points, the defending champion repeatedly went for bold winners. She compiled 33 outright winners and 24 unforced errors.

Li made a name for herself and along with countrywoman Jie Zheng put China squarely on the Grand Slam map. Li, seeded 16th, will move up to number ten after the event. The 5’8” 27-year old had 38 unforced errors but showed the grit necessary to compete at the game’s highest level.

Henin Decisively

Justine Henin left nothing to the imagination. With the precision and savvy of a seven-time Grand Slam champion, the unseeded Belgian successfully capped her return to competition with a 6-1, 6-0, 51 minute dismantling of China’s giant killer, Jie Zheng. Cynics suggested the match was not that close.

Having scraped through the tournament’s toughest bracket, Henin was not about to let this one slip away. In what appeared to be a warm-up exercise, Justine hit 23 winners and converted on six of 11 break point opportunities. Zheng only won eight points in the second set.

Despite the win, Henin’s serve continues to raise questions. Barely landing 50% of her first serves and with an unsteady ball toss, she has not rounded into serving form. Her opponent in the finals, Serena Williams, thrives on weak serves.

The rest of Henin’s game looks impressive. She is moving better than Williams and has added touch to her net game. Her one-handed backhand is crisp and gives her the ability to take advantage of sharp-angled shots. But, with Williams, you must hold serve and that will be the challenge in the finals. When Clijsters defeated Williams in last year’s U. S. Open, she was able to hold serve and get into Serena’s service games. To pull the upset, Henin will have to extend the points and keep Serena on the court. The longer the match goes, the better are Henin’s chances.

Murray All Over Cilic

Andy Murray is where he belongs. Playing the best tennis in the draw, Andy Murray has done what he could not accomplish as a higher seed one year ago. The fleet Scot has arrived at the finals of a Grand Slam event. His four set, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-2 dismantling of Croatian Marin Cilic left little doubt as to Murray’s awesome athleticism and skill.

This was a match Murray was supposed to win. Favored and in late rounds in the past, Murray has struggled to fulfill his destiny. The 2010 Australian Open is already different. He has overcome the 2nd seeded Nadal, overwhelmed the upset-minded five set specialist Cilic and beaten back the demons. Seemingly at ease with the press, Murray has found the balance he needs to go to the next level.

At 22 years of age, the early expectations may have been too high for Murray. Even the great Roger Federer, a likely opponent in the finals, had not won a Grand Slam by aged 22.

Murray now gets a day of rest and an opportunity to scout the play of Jo Wilfried Tsonga against the world’s best player in the other semifinal pairing tonight. Federer is a heavy favorite.

Cilic started well serving out to win the first set. For the match he managed three breaks of service, only to be broken back almost immediately. Murray’s constant pressure led to 54 unforced errors compared to Murray’s 29. Murray also blasted 40 outright winners including a dazzling around the net post stunner at 5-2 in the fourth.

Murray’s speed repeatedly prevented Cilic drives from scoring as they had in earlier matches. And, the retrieves were coming back with purpose often catching Cilic flat-footed.

Murray’s fitness regimen is reaping big rewards from the aspiring star. He barely seemed winded after the three-hour contest. From this perspective, he still looks like the man to beat in Melbourne.