Serena Williams beats Maria Sharapova for 18th consecutive time

Despite the American, who was forced to pull out of the Hopman Cup earlier this month due to a knee injury, calling for the doctor between the sets, she pulled away from Sharapova to seal a straight sets 6-4, 6-1 win. “I think that’s the reason I am still playing, because I know that I’m capable, you know, if I play well, of being on top”. He advanced with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over No. 7 Kei Nishikori in the night match on Rod Laver.

The men’s semi-finals will see Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer do battle for the 45th time after both men won their quarter-finals yesterday in straight sets.

Following each of her previous six semi-final appearances at the Australian Open, the world number one has gone on to lift the trophy. The Australian saved two match points before returning a serve long to give Murray the win in 2 hours, 30 minutes.

Williams is now two victories from her 22nd Grand Slam singles title and a tie with Steffi Graf for the record in the Open era, which began in 1968.

Kerber advances to a third career Grand Slam semi, and looks to make her first final in a match where she should be favored, having taken out former world No. 1 and two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka in the quarterfinals.

Two of Sharapova’s 18 defeats by Williams have come in the final of the Australian Open.

In her fourth-round victory against No. 12 Belinda Bencic, the fifth-seeded Sharapova had a career-high 21 aces.

Serena Williams (x1) bt Maria Sharapova (x5) 6-4, 6-1.

Williams, the oldest world number one in WTA history, is often a slow starter and Sharapova made the most of it to hold for a 2-0 lead as the top seed made a string of errors.

The No. 1-ranked Williams twice received medical treatment, at the end of the first set and again after the third game of the second.

Williams, seeking her seventh title here, broke fifth-seeded Sharapova’s serve and clinched an entertaining first set on her fourth set points. “Plus, when I play her, I know automatically I have to step up my game”.

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.

“I thought I played a good match”.

“I’ve been playing this whole week aggressively, but I didn’t start out playing that way today”, the 34-year-old said. “She makes you go back to the drawing board, not just for me, but for many other players”, she said.

“I’m playing good tennis, fun tennis for me anyway”.

“It’s nothing that serious, that I can’t run or play so it’s ok”.

Williams beat Radwanska in the 2012 Wimbledon final.

“I like the way she hits the ball”, Williams said.

It meant the five-time Grand Slam winner’s demoralising jinx against one of the greatest players ever remains intact.

“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.