Sharapova admits williams is on different level after australian open defeat

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.

Wawrinka was the only man to beat top-ranked Novak Djokovic in a Grand Slam match past year – the French Open final – and the last man to beat him at Melbourne Park since 2010.

Her grip on the title looks unlikely to be threatened in the semi-finals by world number four Agnieszka Radwanska, who has lost all eight of her matches against the world number one.

Taking full advantage, the current world number one broke for a second time with relative ease and fought off a late match resurgence from her Russian counterpart before moving a set and 5-0 to the good.

For the Russian five-time Grand Slam victor, 28, her demoralising jinx against one of the greatest players ever remains intact. Like Williams, Radwanska has an eventful Tuesday too, beating Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain, 6-1, 6-3 in the first quarterfinal Tuesday.

She further dismissed the idea that this might be her 16th and final appearance at the year’s first grand slam, she said: “Hopefully not, unless you know something I don’t”.

“But I have to learn about these situations, this match, this experience”. She taught me to believe in myself.

“I’m really excited to be in another final – it kind of blows my mind right now”, said the 34-year-old Williams.

“When I’m forced to play better, I do well”.

Notoriously cagey about injuries, Williams said it had been nothing more than a bit of treatment for food poisoning.

Another ominous fact facing the Pole is that every time defending champion Williams has got past the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park, she has gone on to win the tournament.

She went on a five-game roll in the second to put the result beyond doubt before Sharapova held serve. She had a chance to tie Graf’s mark at last year’s U.S. Open, but lost in the semifinals. She makes you work, and that’s inspiring.

Williams woke up, however, and sent Sharapova into a temporary tailspin with a crushing return in the fourth game, later breaking for 2-2. She needed time, she said, to recover mentally and physically. “So I think it will be a long match and it will be a good match to see where I am”, she added.

Djokovic, the No. 1 seed, swept past the aggressive Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-2 6-4 in the night session. You don’t need to spend words on his achievements – he is a great champion and someone I have a lot of respect for. “I think that makes me play better”.

The Spanish 10th seed was no match for her Polish opponent, who is now on a 13-match unbeaten run following her success at the Shenzhen Open last month.

However, Serena showed on Tuesday afternoon in Melbourne that when she’s on her game even the world’s best will struggle to even hang around with her.

The No 5 seed said: “She played quite explosive”.

The pair traded early breaks as Williams made a loose start – her forehand particularly off – and Sharapova was punished for two double faults.