Sharapova needed only 66 minutes to overpower her quarter-final opponent Makarova yesterday. PHOTO: AFP
Maria Sharapova set up an Australian Open showdown with China’s Li Na yesterday as she roared into the semi-finals for the record loss of only nine games.
The world number two swamped fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-2, continuing her blistering start to the season.
Despite the scoreline, the four-time Grand Slam-winner insisted it had been close against Makarova.
“No matter what our record is, we always have close matches,” said Sharapova. “It was quite close in the beginning today, we exchanged breaks of serves, but I think I ended up being the more aggressive player.
“Today was a matter of staying focused because I know how excited she was to play me.”
However, Sharapova will face her sternest test yet against China’s Li, who halted the 13-match unbeaten run of Agnieszka Radwanska to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final since she won the 2011 French Open.
Li became the first player this year to take a set off the Polish fourth seed when she edged a tight opener containing seven breaks of serve.
Radwanska came storming back by winning eight points in a row to take the first two games of the second set to love. But Li then rattled off five straight games before serving it out for a 7-5, 6-3 win.
“She’s a tough player,” said Li. “I felt like I was against a wall today. She can hit everywhere, but without any mistakes. I felt it was just very tough. You have to focus on every shot. Not every point, every shot. If you hit like slow or like short one, she’ll attack.”
Djokovic to meet Ferrer in semi-final
In the men’s single event, Novak Djokovic bounced back from a marathon five-setter just 48 hours earlier as he skated into the Australian Open semi-finals with a untroubled win over Tomas Berdych.
The Serbian world number one, chasing a hat-trick of Australian crowns, showed no ill-effects from his torrid five-hour dogfight with Stanislas Wawrinka as he beat the Czech fifth seed, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1, 6-4.
“I felt good enough to go another five hours, but I definitely wasn’t thinking about it,” said Djokovic. “I tried to get the work done as fast and efficient as possible. I was very happy with the way I started the match.
“I was very aggressive out there, going for my shots, which wasn’t the case against Wawrinka. So it’s a good improvement and very encouraging for next match.”
It was Djokovic’s 12th win over Berdych in 13 meetings with the Czech’s only win coming on grass in the semi-finals of 2010 Wimbledon. The victory clinched Djokovic his 11th consecutive Grand Slam semi-final.
Djokovic now faces a semi-final tomorrow against Spanish fourth seed David Ferrer, who fought back to beat countryman Nicolas Almagro in five sets 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 earlier yesterday.
Novak Djokovic
“I felt good enough to go another five hours, but I definitely wasn’t thinking about it. I tried to get the work done as fast and efficient as possible. I was very happy with the way I started the match. I was very aggressive out there and was going for my shots.”
Li Na
“Radwanska is a tough player. I felt like I was against a wall today. She can hit everywhere, but without any mistakes. I felt it was just very tough. You have to focus on every shot. Not every point, every shot. If you hit like slow or like short one, she’ll attack.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 23rd, 2013.
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