Australian Open: Serena Williams beats Sharapova, gets Radwanska in semis

The three most decorated players in Melbourne in the Open era all won in straight sets Tuesday, with Williams starting the roll with a 6-4, 6-1 win in a rematch of last year’s final.

When 28-year-old Sharapova steps on the court, she will be desperate to avenge last year’s final loss to Williams.

In tomorrow’s semi-finals Williams will play Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1, 6-3.

“When you’re playing someone like that who is so great you have to play with fire and intensity”.

In the men’s bracket, third-seeded Roger Federer of Switzerland advanced to his 39th Grand Slam tournament semifinal.

Williams has never looked back after these two players engaged in a classic semifinal here in 2005, the American winning her first of 18 in a row 2-6, 7-5, 8-6.

Sharapova had a career-high 21 aces In her previous win against No. 12 Belinda Bencic.

An error-strewn service game from Williams saw her broken immediately and raised the prospect of a thrilling contest, however back-to-back double faults from Sharapova allowed her opponent to level shortly afterwards.

Sharapova admitted she was unable to capitalize on her early break of serve in the first set, and said Williams was simply too good in the second.

She was able to protect her own serve, and go on the attack against Sharapova’s. 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.

Serena showed master class as to why she is now the world number one in the second set as she put on an exemplary exhibition of shot-making and aggressive tennis, backing Sharapova down and making her chances count. “She makes you go back to the drawing board, not just for me, but for many other players”, she explained. She then addressed the crowd: “Thank you guys for coming out; I hear you all, and it means a lot to me!”

“Against Serena, as we all know, the return is one of her great strengths”.

“It will be a good match”, Williams said. Despite remaining an invincible force, the driven American said she had learned to relax and was enjoying her tennis greatly now that the clock was ticking on her career. “Keep getting to the point where I have an opportunity to play against her”.

Williams, 34, appeared to struggle with her ball toss in the morning sunshine on Rod Laver Arena as she fell 2-0 down and was not at her best in the opening stages.

“It was super intense”, Serena said after winning her 18th straight against the Russian.

Sharapova hasn’t given up hope of breaking a drought against Williams that goes back to 2004. She didn’t play another match in 2015.

Admittedly fried both mentally and physically, Williams then took the next four months off. When she returned in Melbourne, Williams withdrew from her first match at the Hopman Cup, citing knee inflammation, eventually withdrawing from the event. In the last round, she pulled off a dramatic 6-7 (6), 1-6, 7-5 win against Anna-Lena Friedsam – a match in which the German blew a third-set lead and suffered from severe cramps.