World number one Serena Williams muscled past Maria Sharapova for an 18th straight time to set up an Australian Open semi-final against Agnieszka Radwanska, who has never beaten the dominant American.
The six-time Melbourne Park champion heaped more misery on her long-time rival 6-4, 6-1, with the Russian fifth seed stretching her demoralising unbeaten run against the American great to 12 years.
Sharapova made it a real contest for almost an hour but eventually buckled under the American’s power and the second set was a one-sided affair.
Williams, 34, appeared to struggle with her ball toss in the morning sunshine on Rod Laver Arena as she fell 2-0 down and was not at her best in the opening stages.
The intensity ratcheted up as the set progressed with both players repeatedly yelling “Come on!” as they tried to grab the initiative.
“It was super intense,” said Williams. “She’s an incredibly intense and focused player who was world number one.
“When you’re playing someone so great you have to come out with a lot of fire and intensity.
“I’ve been playing this whole week aggressive and I don’t think I started out playing that way. At the start of the second set I wanted to play the way I have been doing to get to the quarter-finals.”
Sharapova said: “It’s motivating because she’s at a different level. 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.”
Radwanska earlier beat Spanish 10th seed Carla Suarez Navarro 6-1 6-3 to reach her second Melbourne semi-final in three years.
