Williams beats Sharapova; Djokovic, Federer to meet in semis

Williams’ win sends her into a seventh Australian Open semi-final – where she will face Agnieszka Radwanska – and she has won the title every time she has reached this stage in Melbourne. She was two wins away from a calendar-year Grand Slam in 2015 when she lost to Roberta Vinci in the U.S. Open semifinals.

She is the first German into the last four at the Australian Open since Anke Huber in 1998.

Sharapova is “an incredibly intense, focused player who was number one and has won so many Grand Slams for a reason”.

“I love it in Australia; it’s the only tournament that I play that if I lose early, I still hang out”, Serena said.

Defending champion Serena Williams defeated Maria Sharapova 6-4, 6-1 in the quaterfinals of the 2016 Australian Open as the most anticipated game of the competition has proven to be one of the most one-sided ones. As it progressed, the rallies got longer, the shrieks and grunts got louder and the emotions were fully on display.

It was a huge upset for the German, whose six defeats by the 14th seed included this month’s Brisbane International final and an epic three-hour marathon at last year’s US Open. “I was trying to give everything today on court”. “So I don’t think anyone can really play on that kind of level at all”.

Konta believes she was outplayed by the seventh-seeded Kerber, who rightfully earned herself a place in the final with consistently strong play. “I was able to do everything that I needed to do”, the 34-year-old American said. Is she can frustrate Serena by absorbing the American’s power game – something she’s yet to figure out – and wait for errors to creep into her opponent’s play, there is a definite chance for her.

“I think if you’re serving maybe 180 against somebody else compared to Serena, that’s an ace”, Sharapova said after the match when asked about her serves. It’s been two decades since Steffi Graf won her last Australian Open, but her presence looms large over Saturday’s final.

The chirping intensified as Williams served in the sixth game of the second set, and she looked up angrily after her off-balance forehand from the baseline conceding her only service break of the match.

With Steffi Graf’s Open-era record of 22 major titles within sight at the Australian Open, and Margaret Court’s all-time mark of 24 on the horizon, she has no plans to hang up her racquet.

Perhaps never has a 14th seed entered a grand slam with such expectation as the 26-year-old former world No.1.

Williams hasn’t played a left-hander so far this tournament and said that, combined with Kerber’s quarterfinal win over two-time champion Victoria Azarenka, were making her wary.

“It’s not a stat that’s set in stone – I still have to win two matches”, Williams said.

Now it was Sharapova’s turn to feel the heat as a cruel net cord prevented her from sealing the hold and a lengthy game ensued in which Williams carved out four set points.

“I like the way she hits the ball”.

A former World No.2, Radwanska pulled up more soundly in the second set, levelling proceedings at 3-3 after falling behind an early break.