Williams made it 18 consecutive victories against fifth seed Sharapova thanks to a 6-4 6-1 quarter-final triumph as the defending Australian Open champion progressed to the semi-finals at Melbourne Park.
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While he’s dominated Murray in three Australian Open finals, Djokovic credits his decade-long rivalries with Federer and Rafael Nadal, whom the Serb leads 24-23 overall, for transforming him into a 10-times major victor.
The 17-time Grand Slam champion handed No. 6 Tomas Berdych a 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-4 beating to advance to the Australian Open semifinals for the 12th time in the past 13 years.
Williams moved on to the Australian Open semifinals with scores against Sharapova of 6-4 and 6-1 when they played each other during the quarterfinals Tuesday. Hitting power shots at Serena just makes her power shots coming back have more pace.
Williams also had to concentrate hard to hold in the ninth game, when a baby screamed loudly in the stands as she faced breakpoints. “I didn’t think I would have done as well as I have”, she told reporters.
Dismissing 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”.
As incredible as it may be, Williams’ form in Melbourne has been even more impressive than her displays previous year.
“When you’re playing someone so great you have to come out with a lot of fire and intensity”.
Williams raced to a 3-0 lead in the second set and another visit from the doctor followed by another break of serve saw the top seed go up 4-0.
It was Radwanska’s third win in four matches against Suarez Navarro.
She had been serving well this tournament, leading all women in aces – with more than twice as many as Williams (52-25). “I tried to be aggressive, to focus on my serve and I think I did a good job”.
Meanwhile, Djokovic is seeking his 11th Grand Slam title while Federer, 34, is looking to extend his record tally to 18 – and both will want to take charge of their head-to-head, which is locked at 22-22.
“Everything from here on out, every match, is a bonus for me”. They played in the Wimbledon and U.S. Open finals a year ago, each time Djokovic prevailing.
In a titanic first set, No. 5 Sharapova broke Williams in the opening game and then held.
She advanced to the semifinal where she will face No. 4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska, who is her top competition at this stage with both Simona Halep and Garbine Muguruza out of the tournament. “I’m going to do my best, and I have nothing to lose”.
Sharapova won two of her first three meetings with Williams.
She missed three with netted forehands, partially forced by Sharapova’s courageous second serve, but the fourth was converted with a cool forehand volley. “She was really explosive off the return”.
The world number seven beat Djokovic in the US Open semi-finals in 2014 but he failed to make the same impact in Melbourne.
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Radwanska, who sports an 0-8 record against Williams, will need to be inspired to overcome the title-holder.
