IMAGE: Serena Williams of the United States celebrates winning her semi-final match against Mirjana Lucic-Baroni of Croatia. Photograph: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
Serena Williams ended the fairytale run of Mirjana Lucic-Baroni at the Australian Open on Thursday with a crushing 6-2, 6-1 win that set up a final against her sister Venus.
IMAGE: Serena Williams of the US reacts. Photograph: Issei Kato/Reuters
The world number two was back to her ruthless best at Rod Laver Arena, charging out of the blocks to give the 79th-ranked Croatian no time to settle and roaring to victory in 50 minutes.
Serena, a six-times Melbourne Park champion, wrapped up the match when Lucic-Baroni slammed a shot into the net, the American reaching her 29th grand slam final where she will bid for a 23rd major title.
The Williams sisters will contest their first Grand Slam final since Wimbledon in 2009, which Serena won in two sets.
