Serena maintains hex on Sharapova to reach semis

Considering she had not played since her semi-final loss at the hands of Italian Roberta Vinci in last year’s US Open 6-2, 4-6, 4-6 – the only time she has lost in her last ten matches – Williams is in incredible touch.

No. 1-seeded Williams and No. 5 Sharapova will meet in the quarterfinals at the Australian Open on Tuesday (Monday night in America), which is a shame because the Grand Slam event doesn’t adhere to the true seeding setup in which the top-seeded player would take on the No. 8 seed in the quarters.

“You have to come out with a lot of fire and intensity”.

Agnieszka Radwanska survived a thrilling fourth-round match when she beat Anna-Lena Friedsam of Germany 6-7, 6-1, 7-5 after trailing 5-2 in the final set.

For the Russian five-time Grand Slam victor, 28, her demoralising jinx against one of the greatest players ever remains intact.

After Serena Williams beat Maria Sharapova in the quarterfinals in the stadium named after the Australian great, Rod Laver Arena, the tournament finally awarded the man known as “Rocket” his replica trophy.

Not only has Sharapova failed to beat Williams in 12 years she has struggled even to stretch her, winning only three sets during her losing streak. Second seed and four-time finalist Murray defeated the home hope 6-4, 6-4, 7-6(4) in two hours and 30 minutes for a place in his seventh straight quarter-final at Melbourne Park.

A nonchalant Williams claimed she did not know Sharapova was now in the way of her bid to win a 22nd Grand Slam and equal Steffi Graf’s Open-era record. Sharapova is looking to win her second Australian Open title.

Two of Sharapova’s 18 defeats by Williams have come in the final of the Australian Open.

Sharapova fired down a career-best 21 aces in her fourth-round victory over Swiss teenager Belinda Bencic but had trouble imposing her serve on the world No.1.

Maria Sharapova had fired 21 aces in her fourth round match but managed just seven against Serena Williams.

But Williams held in the third game, closing with an ace after it went to deuce, and then broke to tie it, 2-2.

Sharapova said: “It’s motivating because she’s at a different level”.

This time around, Radwanska broke to lead 2-0 but this triggered a string of service breaks. She makes you go back to the drawing board, not just for me, but for many other players. I was just able to make a few more balls.

Before her match, Williams was keeping an eye on Sharapovas match and noted that she “had a really good win today.”. In the first round she knocked down world No. 36 Camila Giorgi 6-4, 7-5 with the match against the Italian her closest all tournament. “It’s a match to forget for me”.

While her record against Williams is not yet on the scale of Sharapova, it is still dismal. “I don’t see myself playing anything before Indian Wells (in March)”.

Sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic also made it through to the quarterfinals with a hard-fought 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 victory over 24th-seeded Roberto Bautista Agut of Spain.