Federer Reaches Semis, Serena Beats Sharapova in Australian Open

The win makes Federer the oldest man since 1979 to reach the Australian Open semifinals.

Williams, who also beat 2008 champion Sharapova in the final here last year, also won the French Open and Wimbledon in 2015 and got within two wins of a calendar-year Grand Slam before losing in the U.S. Open finals.

Fourth seed Radwanska earlier blasted into her fifth career Grand Slam semi-final with a 6-1 6-3 mauling of Carla Suarez. Djokovics mark is nearly as good — hes 5-0 in semifinals, and in finals, in the seasons first major.

Defending champion Djokovic recovered strongly from his five-set struggle against Gilles Simon as he ousted Nishikori 6-3, 6-2, 6-4, after Federer swept aside Berdych 7-6 (7/4), 6-2, 6-4.

Federer enters his Australian Open quarter-final against Tomas Berdych on Tuesday unlikely to need too much help to take care of the sixth-seeded Czech for a 16th time. He hasnt gone past the semifinals here since winning the title in 2010.

Williams’ win over Sharapova was the marquee match of the day, improving her record to 19-2 in a rivalry that goes back to 2004.

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

“It was super intense”, Williams said. “That’s part of the reason why I guess I’m still playing”.

“The question is, do you come in off a low ball because you’re being dragged in, or are you coming in on your terms?” Against Williams, she had three, and seven double-faults.

Sharapova revealed after her defeat a niggling forearm injury that is likely to prevent her playing for Russian Federation in their Fed Cup tie against the Netherlands on February 6-7. “She was really explosive off the return.

Williams also had to concentrate hard to hold in the ninth game, when a baby screamed loudly in the stands as she faced breakpoints.

Nishikori was beaten badly on both sides of the second serve, as he only won 40 percent of his own second offerings, while Djokovic was able to win an impressive 66 percent of his second-serve points. Despite more than 11 years in between, Sharapova isn’t giving up hope of breaking that drought.

She said: “I’m going to go and take care of my forearm first. I don’t think there is any miracles waiting”, Berdych said. You know, wished maybe I didn’t get a break here or there. In this tournament, Djokovic has yet to lose a set in all but one match.

Roger Federer has delivered a showcourt masterclass to surge into his 40th grand slam semi-final at Melbourne Park. “In my opinion, he’s better than a lot of the guys who are ranked ahead of him”.

NOVAK Djokovic believes beating Roger Federer is as tough a task as it has ever been as the rivals prepare for another grand slam showdown at the Australian Open.