Tennis-Open-Vaidisova ready to put hero worship behind her

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Nicole Vaidisova cannot afford to get too star-struck when she faces Serena Williams for the first time in her career.

The 17-year-old Czech is aiming to reach her first grand slam final but standing in her way is a seven-times grand slam title champion.

"I'm a big fan of hers," Vaidisova said on Tuesday after she won an all-Czech quarter-final duel against Lucie Safarova 6-1 6-4.

But in case Williams gets any big ideas of intimidating the fledgling teenager with her reputation, Vaidisova was quick to point out she has firmly put all that hero worship behind her.

"I admired the way she played. I watched her practice (at Nick) Bollettieri's (academy). I was 11 years old and I was very excited to see her play. I was definitely very impressed with her," she said.

"But on court, when you play, you don't think if she has won a slam or not. I block that out.

"I don't think I'll be going out there scared."

The latest model to emerge from Bollettieri's production line, the Czech announced her arrival when she claimed the scalp of then world number one Amelie Mauresmo at last year's French Open en route to her first grand slam semi.

With her glamorous blonde looks and Eastern European roots, Vaidisova can expect the inevitable comparisons to Bollettieri's other well-known prodigies, Russians Maria Sharapova and Anna Kournikova.

With six trophies already in her possession Vaidisova has already proved that she is not made in the same mould as Kournikova, who famously failed to win any WTA singles titles despite earning millions from lucrative sponsorship deals.

But if she lifts the Australian Open title on Saturday, the teenager will not mind joining U.S. Open champion Sharapova in the grand slam winners' circle.

"I've had a great start to the year. Now I want to just keep improving," she said.

[MELBOURNE/Reuters/Finance.cz]