Serena Williams beats Maria Sharapova yet again, advances to Australian Open semifinals

No. 1 seed Serena Williams faced a challenge but ultimately was too much for Maria Sharapova. Williams topped the No. 5 seed, 6-4, 6-1, in the quarterfinal round of the 2016 Australian Open on Tuesday in Melbourne. It’s the 18th consecutive victory for Williams over Sharapova.

Williams has yet to drop a set down under and had only dropped eight total games in her previous three matches. But despite the one-sided nature of their career matchups, Sharapova in the first set proved a worthy opponent for Williams, even breaking her first service game.

But Williams used nine aces in the first set alone to take the opener, 6-4, though not before Sharapova fought off three set points.

The second set was a different story, however, with Williams cruising thanks to a strong return of service as well as points like this winner to go up 2-0:

Williams improved to 19-2 all-time against Sharapova, including 7-1 in Grand Slam tournaments and 4-0 at the Australian Open. Sharapova before the match tried to downplay her losing streak against Williams.

“I got myself into the quarterfinal of a Grand Slam,” Sharapova told the Associated Press on Monday. “There is no reason I shouldn’t be looking to improve and to getting my game in a better position than any other previous round. It’s only going to be tougher, especially against Serena.”

Sharapova’s last win against Williams came in the 2004 WTA Championships.

Up next for Williams in the semifinal round is No. 4 seed Agnieszka Radwanska, a 6-1, 6-3 winner over Carla Suarez Navarro. Williams is two wins away from capturing her seventh Australian Open championship and her 22nd Grand Slam tournament singles title, the latter of which would tie Steffi Graf for the most in the Open era.

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