Serena brings down Maria, moves to semis

MELBOURNE – Serena Williams attacked Maria Sharapova’s strength and it helped extend her complete domination of their rivalry, earning the six-time Australian Open champion a place in the semifinals.

Top-ranked Williams beat Sharapova, 6-4, 6-1, in the quarterfinals on Tuesday, her 18th consecutive victory and 19th in their 21 career meetings back to 2004.

“It was super intense,” Williams said of the replay of last year’s final. “She’s 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.”

Up next for her is fourth-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska, who beat No. 10 Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1, 6-3 to reach a Grand Slam semifinal for the fifth time.

Roger Federer reached his 12th Australian Open semifinal, and his 39th at a Grand Slam tournament, when he beat No. 6 Tomas Berdych, 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-4.

The four-time Australian champion used a full array of shots, including some vintage backhands, in his 48 winners, to avenge two losses to Berdych at Wimbledon in 2010 and the 2012 US Open.

“Tomas has caused me a lot of problems over the years,” said Federer, who improved to 16-6 against the Czech player. “He’s one of those guys who make you a better player, he’s beaten me on the biggest courts around the world.

“I was aggressive, had some variety in there. I’m very happy I was able to play this way.”

He’s now the oldest man since 1979 (Colin Dibley) to reach the Australian Open semis, where he’ll play either five-time champion Novak Djokovic or No. 7 Kei Nishikori.

Williams has won the title each the six previous times she’s won in the quarterfinals here. It’s not a statistic she was aware of, but one she didn’t mind.

“No, but that’s good,” she said. “It’s not a stat that’s set in stone – I still have to win two matches.”

Sharapova has won five majors, including the 2008 Australian title, and has been in three other finals at Melbourne Park.

In her fourth-round win against No. 12 Belinda Bencic she had a career-high 21 aces. Against Williams, she had three, and seven double-faults. Williams had 13 aces, three double-faults, hit 31 winners to 11, and broke Sharapova’s serve four times.

“She played quite explosive,” Sharapova said. “She was really explosive off the return. Yeah.”

Sharapova broke to open the match and held for a 2-0 lead. But Williams held in the third game and broke to quickly level at 2-2.

Early in the set, points were short. As it progressed, the rallies got longer, the shrieks and grunts got louder and the emotions were fully on display.

Both players struggled with their ball toss at one end, repeatedly practicing their toss to work out the best position to serve into the sun.

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

She was able to protect her own serve, and go on the attack against Sharapova’s. It cost her in the eighth game when she had three break-point chances, taking the high-risk rather than the high-percentage option with her return.

But that approach is what has helped win her 21 major titles, and Williams’ aggressive returns finally helped her convert on her fourth set point, following a heavy ground stroke to the net and putting away a volley.

She went on a five-game roll until Sharapova held in the second set, and then finished it off in the seventh game after saving break points.