Serena Williams made light of the seven ranking places separating her and Maria Sharapova as she eased past the arena number two 6-3 6-1 on the Madrid Open.
The yankee is in to the semi-finals for under the second one time in five singles events this year and could play either Sam Stosur or Lucie Hradecka.
World primary Victoria Azarenka made progress in less assured style, beating Li Na 3-6 6-3 6-3 after a shaky start.
Juan Martin del Potro saw off Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-3 6-4 within the mens draw.
The Argentine will play either Czech Tomas Berdych or Rafael Nadals conqueror Fernando Verdasco inside the last four.
Top seed and defending champion Novak Djokovic and world number three Roger Federer will try to follow Del Potro in to the semi-finals in a while Friday in matches against Janko Tipsarevic and David Ferrer respectively.
Serenas year so far
- Brisbane: QF (withdrew)
- Australian Open: 4R (Makarova 6-2 6-3)
- Miami: QF (Wozniacki 6-4 6-4)
- Charleston: W (bt. Sararova 6-0 6-1)
Williams, whose last Grand Slam title was at Wimbledon in 2010, had won her previous six contests with Sharapova and opened in suitably confident style.
Six aces and two early breaks of serve carried the primary set her way and, although Sharapova briefly stemmed the tide by breaking back for two-2 within the second, the Russian couldn't not convert resistance right into a full blown rebellion.
Sharapova slipped behind again soon after with a sixth double fault and will not rein in her opponent for a second time.
Azarenka, who lost to Sharapova within the final in Stuttgart in her last tournament, came stressed from Li in the beginning and the top in their match, but, after building a 4-0 lead inside the decider, saw off the Chineses late charge to progress.
The Belarusian joined Nadal and Djokovic in criticising the blue clay surface in Madrid.
"Im not partial to this court, thats needless to say," she added.
"But I dont wish to sit here and complain about it. Nothing goes to modify this year. We are able to talk after the tournament about maybe possible changes or something."
Azarenka will meet world number three Agnieszka Radwanska or American qualifier Varvara Lepchenko within the last four.
From WhatNewsToday.net
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