Australian Open 2016: Williams beats Sharapova, Federer through to SF

“I have nothing to lose against Serena”, said Kerber, whose only victory in six attempts against Williams came four years ago in Cincinnati.

“[Sharapova is] an incredibly intense, focused player who was No. 1 and has won so many Grand Slams for a reason”.

She has played her eight times since 2008 and lost the lot, taking just one set along the way.

Roger Federer has advanced to his 39th Grand Slam semifinal, beating Tomas Berdych 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-4 in the Australian Open quarterfinals.

She could only serve 3 aces and was broken 4 times during the match, which proved to be the difference.

The 34-year-old American eased into the semi-finals of the Australian Open with a 6-4, 6-1 victory over Maria Sharapova yesterday to remain on course for a seventh title at Melbourne Park.

Williams started slowly and was certainly not at her barnstorming best but it is ominous for the rest of the draw that she won with so much to spare.

The Melbourne Park top seed, who next faces Agnieszka Radwanska, is proud to still be playing and at the top of her game.

It was the worst possible opening for Radwanska, with Williams, the oldest world number one in WTA history, breaking and then using her huge power advantage to easily hold serve, racing 2-0 clear with a smash at the net.

The chirping intensified as Williams served in the sixth game of the second set, and she looked up angrily after her off-balance forehand from the baseline conceding her only service break of the match.

The final game of the set saw Williams put a lot of pressure on Sharapova for the break, eventually converting her 4th break point in the game to take the set 6-4. Serena Williams was just being her dominant self.

“I feel like if it was five-all, the momentum would have been a little bit different than going into where she played a really great beginning of the second set”, Sharapova said.

Graf must have been watching as Kerber revealed a text landed for her soon after, without revealing what it said. “Hopefully (I’ll) play my best tennis, otherwise I’ll be in big trouble”. I was just dealing with some food poisoning issues from a few days ago.

Maria Sharapova has vowed to head “back to the drawing board” to formulate a plan to defeat the explosive game of reigning champion Serena Williams.

His next opponent is the victor of an evening match between No. 1 Novak Djokovic and No. 7 Kei Nishikori.

“I was solid”, Djokovic said.

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 US Open. Raonic, the No. 13 seed, hit 82 winners, including 24 aces, to beat Wawrinka 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 4-6, 6-3 on Rod Laver Arena in three hours and 44 minutes.

“It’s motivating because she’s at a different level”, the five-time grand slam victor said.

“She’s beaten me before, too, and pretty good”. Keep getting to the point where I have an opportunity to play against her. Keep finding a way to turn that around.

“He’s the type of player who makes you better”.

Radwanska, who sports an 0-8 record against Williams, will need to be inspired to overcome the title-holder.