Serena Williams Broke Even Year Jinx

Serena Williams has never won the Australian Open Championship in an even year. That is no longer a true statement as she wrestled for the championship this year, 2010, an even year, from Justine Henin, 6/4 3/6 6/2.

Serena put a stop in the resurgence of the Belgians from their retirements. Kim Clijsters returned to professional tennis a few matches before the US Open last year and was victorious over Serena in the controversial semifinal match where Serena lost her composure over a foot fault call from a line judge. Her tirade over the line judge cost her the match and paved the way for Clijsters to win the 2009 US Open Championship, her first major after her return to tennis competition.

Henin, inspired by the instant success of Clijsters, decided to make a comeback a couple of matches ahead of this year's Australian Open. She withdrew from the second match she was scheduled to play. After their individual semifinal matches, it looks like Serena was done after struggling to finish off Na Li, one of the two Chinese women to make it ever to the Australian Open semifinals. Justine had a much easier match with the other Chinese player, Jie Zheng. Serena still had to play in the women's double's semifinal later that day with her older sister Venus Williams and having won that match played another match in the championship yesterday and won. Justine was favored by odds-makers to win this finals.

The much fresher Justine Henin yielded to the more seasoned, more powerful veteran in Serena Williams in their first ever finals in a major.

Exhausted Cilic Bowed to Murray 3/6 6/4 6/4 6/2

After playing many five setters heading into the semifinals, Marin Cilic ran out of gas to yield to the fresher Any Murray, 3/6 6/4 6/4 6/2.

Murray will face the winner of the other semifinal match between Roger Federer and Jo Wilfred Tsonga.

Easy Semifinal Win for the Returning Justine Henin

The second Chinese woman to play in the semifinal of the 2010 Australian Open, Jie Zheng, just won one game the entire match. Jie's serve was a cakewalk for the returning former number one, Justine Henin. Final score of the match is 6/1 6/0.

Henin faces Serena Williams in their first ever match in a major's final. Justine won their last three matches in a major's final in 2007. Serena won in their last match in 2008 just before Justine went into retirement.

It looks like Justine may have an upper hand looking at Serena's lack of mobility and lack of rest. Serena pairs with sister Venus Williams in the women's double's semifinal match later today. Should the sisters win their match today, they will play in the finals tomorrow leaving Serena without a day-off before the women's final on Saturday.

Na Li Almost Repeated with Another Williams

Serena Williams started the match with a break of Na Li's serve. Both players held serves until Na broke Serena on the 10th game of the set. The set went to a tie-breaker with Serena winning 7/4.

Serena had a hard time moving in the second set but held her serve in the set. She was not able to break Na either because of her lack of mobility. She had a few match points on Na's serve but could not capitalize. The set went to another tie-breaker with Na winning only 1 point as Serena took her win to be the first woman to tne finals where she will face the winner of the other semifinal between the other Chinese woman, Jie Zheng, and the returning Justine Henin.

Final score in the Serena Williams - Na Li match is 7/6 (7/4) 7/6 (7/1).

Serena's Best Comeback!

Down 1 set and 4/0 in the second set, Serena was destined to follow her older sister's footstep in getting booted out of the 2010 Australian Championship, she suddenly found her game and took the set to a tie-breaker winning the tie-breaker and the set in great style. Then her domination of the game showed up in the third set as she beat Victoria Azarenka 4/6 7/6 6/2. Serena now faces Na Li of China in the semifinal to revenge the defeat of her older sister Venus.

No Sister Act This Year!

The sister act has been delayed this year as Na Li beats Venus Williams in the first quarterfinal match in today's Australian Open, 2/6 7/6 7/5. Both players just could not hold serve in the third set. There were more breaks of serves than holds in the third set. Venus made a lot of unforced errors she almost did not show up for the set.

Na Li faces the winner of the match between Serena Williams and Victoria Azarenka in tomorrow's semifinal.

Cilic Outlasts Roddick 7/6 6/3 3/6 2/6 6/3

Cilic was on his way to the semifinals after two sets and went to sleep for another two before waking up to win the fifth. Roddick had his chance on the first game of the fifth set ahead love-40 on Cilic's serve but squandered all three break points giving Cilic five straight points to hold serve. Cilic broke Roddick in the next game and never looked back to win his place in the semifinals, 7/6 6/3 3/6 2/6 6/3.