Australian Open 2016: Serena Williams storms into semis with 6-4, 6-1 over Maria Sharapova

WTA no.1 Serena Williams advanced to the semifinals yet again, extending her dominance in a 12-year rivalry with an 18th straight win over Maria Sharapova.

Williams starting the roll with a 6-4, 6-1 win in a rematch of last year’s final. Up next for her is 4th-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat No. 10 Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1, 6-3 to reach her fifth Grand Slam semifinal.

Williams has won every semifinal she has contested at the Australian Open, and gone on to win the title each time.

“It was super intense,” Williams said. “She is an incredibly intense, focused player who was No. 1 and has won so many Grand Slams for a reason. You have to come out with a lot of fire and intensity.”

She did just that, attacking the serve of Sharapova, the 2008 champion and four-time finalist in Australia. Sharapova had a career-high 21 aces In her previous win against No. 12 Belinda Bencic. Against Williams, she had 3, and 7 double-faults. Williams had 13 aces, hit 31 winners to 11, and broke Sharapova’s serve 4 times.

“She played quite explosive,” Sharapova said. “She was really explosive off the return. Yeah.” Sharapova broke to open the match but Williams held in the third game and broke back to level at 2-2.

From there, Williams protected her own serve as she faced breakpoints, and took high-risk options with her service returns to unsettle Sharapova. After winning an intense first set, Williams had medical treatment – later saying it was just for an upset stomach. She went on a 5-game roll in the second to put the result beyond.

Sharapova has not given up hope of breaking a drought against Williams that goes back to 2004. “It is motivating because she is at a different level,” Sharapova said. “She makes you go back to the drawing board, not just for me, but for many other players. She makes you work. That’s inspiring.”

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press