Australian Open: Williams rolls past Sharapova,advances to semifinals

The six-time Melbourne Park champion heaped more misery on her long-time rival 6-4, 6-1, with the Russian fifth seed stretching her demoralising unbeaten run against the American great to 12 years.

“It was super intense”, Williams said of the replay of last year’s final.

The World No. 1 was seen by the tournament doctor twice and appeared to be given a fruit bar – her coach Patrick Mouratoglou told reporters she was dizzy; Williams said she’d suffered from food poisoning a “few days ago” – but even an under-the-weather Williams can win grand slams.

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.

Third-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland beat sixth-seeded Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, 7-6, 6-2, 6-4. 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.

Williams called out the physio before the start of the second set but when play resumed it was Sharapova who struggled, as she was broken in the second game and then again in the fourth, with Williams storming into a 5-0 lead. “If she wins, I’ll be very happy for her. I’m sure she’ll feel the same way”. The American got ahead 5-4 and closed out the set on her fourth set-point opportunity. “Hopefully I can play my best tennis or I’ll be in trouble”, said the popular 26-year-old, who is on a 13-match win streak.

“She played quite explosive”, Sharapova said. Against Williams, she hit three aces-and seven double faults.

But that approach is what has helped win her 21 major titles, and Williams’ aggressive returns finally helped her convert on her fourth set point, following a heavy ground stroke to the net and putting away a volley.

The five-time grand slam victor fended off three consecutive break points at 3-4, prompting Sharapova to roar “come on” and her coach, Sven Groeneveld, to leap out of his chair in the players’ box at Rod Laver Arena.

The 34-year-old victor of 21 Grand Slams has already cemented her status as one of the all-time greats, if not the greatest.

“I’m here all the time; I have so many friends here”.

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

But after falling into a 2-0 hole, Williams reeled off six of the next eight games to take the early advantage.

“She makes you work”.

When she needed it most, however, facing four set points in the crucial 10th game of the match, her serve failed her and she ceded the opening stanza 6-4.

The four-time Australian champion used a full array of shots, including some vintage backhands, in his 48 winners, to avenge two losses to Berdych at Wimbledon in 2010 and the 2012 U.S. Open.

When the men’s draw for the tournament was made, eyes were drawn to a potential Federer-Djokovic clash in the semifinals.