SEVENTH seed Angelique Kerber tamed British hope Johanna Konta to reach the Australian Open final Thursday, where she will face dominant world No. 1 Serena Williams.

    The 28-year-old, buoyed by a new-found self-belief inspired by fellow German Steffi Graf, proved too hot to handle for Konta as she won 7-5, 6-2 on Rod Laver Arena.

    The win puts the left-hander into her first-ever Grand Slam final on her 33rd attempt, marking the first time a German has got so far at Melbourne Park since 1996.

    That year, Anke Huber made the final where she lost to Monica Seles. Graf is the last German champion in Melbourne, winning the last of her four Australian titles in 1994.

    But Kerber now has a momentous task ahead against a player in awesome form, after defending champion Williams swept past fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 6-0, 6-4 in the other semifinal.

    The German, who is guaranteed to return to the world top five, beat two-time champion Victoria Azarenka in the last eight and the task facing Konta, ranked 47, was always a big ask.

    The Briton, who has risen 100 rankings places in the past year, was on her tournament main draw debut having failed to come through qualifying last season.

    (SD-Agencies)