Serena Williams powers past Maria Sharapova into Australian Open semis

The pivotal moment came when Radwanska broke again to take a 5-3 lead, and after saving a number of break points, she finally sealed victory after an hour and 21 minutes to set up a match against Williams.

“I’ve been playing this whole week aggressively, but I didn’t start out playing that way today”, the 34-year-old said. “[Sharapova is] an incredibly intense, focused player who was No. 1 and has won so many Grand Slams for a reason. Playing someone like that so great you have to come out with fire and intensity”.

Meanwhile, world number three, Roger Federer, also displaced Thomas Berdych 7-6 (7-4), 6-2, 6-4 to reach the semis of the first major Grand Slam of the calendar year.

Federer is the oldest man since 1979 to reach the Australian Open semifinals.

On the six previous times she has got past the quarter-finals, Williams has gone on to win the title.

Fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska has become the first player through to the Australian Open semifinals, overpowering Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1, 6-3 in the opening match at Rod Laver Arena on Tuesday.

From that point, the No. 1 found her groove and cruised through the second set to close out the match and extend her career record against Sharapova to 19-2, 6-1 at Grand Slams.

Williams made a slow start in the last-eight clash, but Sharapova was unable to build on a 2-0 lead before losing the first set in 55 minutes.

Williams, the defending women’s singles champion, has been superb through the first four rounds despite taking a lengthy hiatus after the US Open championship past year.

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.

Knowing she won’t get too many looks on Williams’ serve makes Sharapova skittish on her own serve.

The grunts were getting louder and with the match in the balance at 4-4, two crashing forehand winners, one from each player, were greeted with screeches of celebration.

Williams, who only lost three matches in 56 last season, called the trainer out at the changeover, revealing later she had some “food poisoning issues”, but she soldiered on and took control with an early break in the second set.

They are the two most unsafe returners in the sport, but Williams has unleashed her superior serve and speed around the court to punish the former No. 1.

Although she is perhaps the greatest server of all time, Serena Williams’superior return told the story this time. “I m just looking forward to that match”. “Hopefully (I will) play my best tennis, otherwise I’ll be in big trouble”.

In the other quarter, Milos Raonic persevered with his serve-and-volley game plan and withstood a strong comeback from 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka, advancing to the quarterfinals 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3.

The points were kept short against five-time grand slam victor Sharapova and that was what both wanted, but Williams crushed 31 winners to her rival’s 11.

She says, “Right now I have nothing to lose”.