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Radwanska sets up Konta final

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SYDNEY: Second seed Agnieszka Radwanska dismissed a jaded Barbora Strycova in straight sets at the Sydney International on Thursday, setting up a final against British number one Johanna Konta.


The 2013 champion brushed aside Strycova 6-1, 6-2 to maintain her impeccable record against the Czech and reach her second final in Sydney.


The Pole had never lost to Strycova in their previous six meetings and her opponent looked helpless as the trend continued at the Ken Rosewall Arena.


Strycova was on court for nearly four-and-half hours on Wednesday for her singles and doubles matches and the fatigue showed against Radwanska.


Strycova failed to hold serve in the first set against the former world number two who dropped just three points on serve in the second.


“I think I’m playing better and better each match,” Radwanska, who changed racket in the off-season, told reporters.


“I think I was doing everything right today, and I cannot really complain about anything.


“I really like to play in Australia. I love the courts. I feel very comfortable here. So I’m just very happy to make another final, especially here when it’s always very strong tournament.”


Sydney-born Konta was equally dominant in the other semifinal as she beat Canada’s Eugenie Bouchard 6-2, 6-2.


Konta will hope it will be third time lucky against Radwanska who beat her in both of their previous meetings last year.


“She’s been one of the best players for as long as I can remember,” Konta said of her next opponent in a courtside interview.


“She’s definitely doing something right. I’ve played her twice before, I’ve lost twice. Hopefully I’d do a better job tomorrow,” she added.


Muller to face Troicki


Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller reached his third-straight semifinal at the Sydney International with a big-serving straight sets victory over second seed Pablo Cuevas on Thursday.


Muller thundered down 17 aces in downing the Uruguayan 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 and will face two-time defending champion Viktor Troicki in Friday’s semis.


Troicki, on a 13-match winning streak in Sydney, advanced to the last four after German Philipp Kohlschreiber withdrew before their match citing a lower back injury.


Sixth seed Muller knew he would face a tough test against Troicki to make it to Saturday’s final.


“He hasn’t lost a match in Sydney like, forever. He beat me in the semis two years ago,” Muller said.


“I know he’s a great player. He’s up there for a long time and it’s gonna be a tough match.”


Muller knew his best chance was to continue serving well as he had done this week in the tournament.


“(I’m) just trying to stay positive, (I’ll) try to play well. I think if I serve like I did today it won’t be easy to break me.


“I have to focus on that and try to build up from there.


“For me it’s the third year in a row for the semifinals so I’d also like to get one stage further,” Muller said.


It was not always straightforward for Muller, with Cuevas saving six set points before losing the opening set tie-breaker and then Muller winning on his third match point.


“Today was definitely a big step forward. Even though I don’t think I played a great match... I played a solid match,” Muller said.


“I served pretty well, I was able to focus during the whole match — there were no ups and downs like in the previous rounds. So I’m very happy about that.”


Earlier in the day, German journeyman Kohlschreiber succumbed to lower back soreness that developed a few days ago.


“It’s unfortunate. I think I played a good tournament,” the 33-year-old said.


“But the improvements are not that big that I’m 100 per cent sure to be able to go out on court today.


“It’s sad situation. I played some good tennis, and I’m sorry for it.”


Russian Andrey Kuznetsov overcame Spanish fourth seed Pablo Carreno Busta 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 and will face either Austrian top seed Dominic Thiem or Britain’s Daniel Evans in the other semifinal. — Agencies


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