The world No. 1 has never lost in Melbourne when she’s played a semifinal or finalgoing 10-0with her record overall in grand slam semifinals and finals an impressive 40-7. Further not since the 2011 U.S. Open has the 33-year-old fallen in a grand slam semifinal or final.
Those are indeed ominous numbers for her semifinal opponent Madison Keys, who prevented an all-Williams encounter in the last four when she edged Venus Williams 6-3 4-6 6-4. Keys became the third young, surprise semifinalist at the Australian Open in three seasons, joining Eugenie Bouchard and Sloane Stephens.
But Serena Williams wasn’t looking too far ahead just yet.
The 18-time grand slam winner was simply happy to advance to the semifinals, having not done so in Melbourne since capturing the title in 2010.
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Wawrinka rallied from a 5-1 deficit in a fourth-set tiebreak in his previous match against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez — but almost blew a 6-1 lead in the fourth-set tiebreak versus Nishikori.
The Japanese baseliner drew level at 6-6, only to then miss a drop shot into the net when he was controlling the rally.
Wawrinka closed out the match with a big serve.
Wawrinka, who will face either Novak Djokovic or Milos Raonic in the semifinals, improved to 16-4 in tiebreaks in Melbourne, including 5-0 this year.
