Serena Williams booked her place in the last four at the Australian Open after a comprehensive 6-4, 6-1, win over Maria Sharapova.
The head-to-head between Williams and Sharapova is one of the most one-sided figures in the women’s game. Since losing to Sharapova in the final of the 2004 Wimbledon Championships, Williams has beaten the Russian 17 consecutive times in the run up to their latest clash in Melbourne.
Similar to her fourth round match against Margarita Gasparyan, the world No.1 was broken at the start of the match. The positive start by Sharapova was eroded during the fourth game when Williams converted her first break point of the match to level at 2-2. Both players were under pressure in their service games during the later stages of the opening set. Williams had three chances to break for a 5-3 lead, but was denied by the resilient Russian. Meanwhile, Williams was also on the verge of being broken for the second time in the match at 4-4. The defending champion saved two set points to extend her lead to 5-4. The battle between the two resulted in a marathon service game as Sharapova served to stay in the set. The Russian finally prevailed on her fourth break point of the game when the world No.1 produced a winning forehand at the net to clinch the set.
After clinching the opening set, Williams called for a doctor to the court for treatment. It is understood that the world No.1 has been suffering from food poisoning recently. Nevertheless, the issue didn’t appear too troublesome for the top seed.
Taking the first set, proceedings were much more straightforward for Williams in the second. Aided with 12 winners and 4 aces, the world No.1 broke her Russian rival two consecutive times to surge to a 5-0 lead. As the odds mounted against Sharapova, the world No.5 prevented the bagel set with a straightforward service game. Serving for the match, the world No.1 still encountered resistance from the aggressive Sharapova. The world No.1 was on the verge of losing her service twice, but saved both points due to errors coming from her opponent. Williams held her nerve to seal the match with a forehand winner down the line.
It is now the seventh consecutive time that Williams has beaten Sharapova in straight sets. During her latest triumph, Williams produced 31 winners, 13 aces and 20 unforced errors. Despite her straight sets win, the top seed praised Sharapova.
‘It was super intense. She’s an incredibly intense and focused player who was No 1 and has won so many Grand Slams for a reason”. Williams said.
‘When you are playing someone like that who is so great, you have to come out with a lot of fire and intensity.’
Williams will now play in the last four of the Australian Open for the seventh time in her career. The 21-time Grand Slam champion will play Agnieszka Radwanska in the next round. Despite being the defending champion, the 34-year-old said that she has ‘nothing to lose’ in the upcoming match.
‘She’s a great defender and a great girl, so regardless whoever gets to the final it will be a great thing. I’m going to do my best, I have nothing to lose.’ The world No.1 concluded.
