Serena sidesteps Sharapova to enter Australian Open semis

Chris Evert claimed Serena Williams wanted to beat Maria Sharapova for “personal and professional reasons” after the world No 1 romped to her 18th consecutive win over her Russian rival, writes Neil McLeman in Melbourne. “He’s one of those guys who make you a better player, he’s beaten me on the biggest courts around the world”.

With Sharapova again swatted aside, the 34-year-old world number one, gunning to match Steffi Graf’s Open-era Grand Slam record of 22 titles, now has the composed Pole in her sights.

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

Earlier on Tuesday, Radwanska became the first woman through to the Open semi-finals when she defeated Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1 6-3.

Williams, who improved her career record over Sharapova to 19-2, will play No. 4-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska in the semifinals.

Switzerland’s Roger Federer reacts during his quarter-final match against Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych at the Australian Open tennis tournament at Melbourne Park, Australia, January 26, 2016.

Tune in for the Serena Williams vs. Maria Sharapova Australian Open tennis match at an approximate start time of 9 pm EST / 6 pm EST.

She rolled to a 5-0 lead in the second set before Sharapova held serve.

Sharapova’s first-serve percentage was falling and she went 0-40 down in the seventh game before showing grit to fend off the break points and claw back.

Williams was able to protect her serve in the ninth game and go on the attack against Sharapova. Sharapova remain resilient, saving three set points with a two big second serves and a forehand into the net from Serena, before finally losing the fourth break point. “She makes you go back to the drawing board, not just for me, but for many other players”, she said.

Raonic will face No. 23 Gael Monfils, who reached the last eight in Australia for the first time in 11 trips with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Andrei Kuznetsov. Serena has never lost in the semifinal of the Australian Open. “I think this tournament in particular I’ve been trying to do different things and I’ve been having a lot of fun on the court”, she said.

“Right now I have nothing to lose”, Radwanska said.

“Well, it’s obviously always frustrating”, she said, after Williams destroyed her 6-4, 6-1 in the Australian quarterfinals on Rod Laver Arena, finding it hard to talk about another defeat.

“She’s a really nice girl”, Williams said.

In men’s play Monday, Andy Murray moved to within two matches of the Australian Open final – and another chance for Melbourne Park redemption – when he beat local hope Bernard Tomic, 6-4, 6-4, 7-6, in the fourth round. “I think the first set was definitely key to the rest of the match because I think it maybe might’ve taken some energy out of Tomas”. “Keep getting to the point where I have an opportunity to play against her”.