Serena Williams powers toward record title at Australian Open

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Serena Williams powers toward record title at Australian Open

Serena Williams continued her pursuit of a record Grand Slam title on Monday as she reached the Australian Open quarter-finals without dropping a set. A day after defending champion and top seed Angelique Kerber fell by the wayside, Williams overcame Barbora Strycova 7-5, 6-4 to set up a last-eight clash with Britain’s Johanna Konta. The American great has much to gain if she wins in Melbourne, since she would overtake Steffi Graf’s Open-era record of 22 Grand Slam titles and end Kerber’s short reign as the world’s top female tennis player.

In hot conditions, Williams fought off the tenacious Strycova in two tight sets, following her sister Venus into the quarter-finals and staying on track for a possible all-Williams final. Konta, the ninth seed, also reached the last eight with a perfect record in sets after a convincing 6-1, 6-4 victory over Russia’s Ekaterina Makarova. Despite the task facing her, Konta appeared happy about the opportunity to play against Williams, a childhood idol, for what will be her second straight Australian Open semi-final.