Serena Williams powers past Maria Sharapova in straight sets to book her place in the semi-final of the Australian Open
Tennis' great rivalry that never was ended in its usual fashion when Serena Williams ended up crushing her old sparring partner Maria Sharapova.
Williams reached the semi-final of the Australian Open by scoring her eighteenth consecutive victory over the Russian with a 6-4 6-1 that quickly unravelled to end after an hour and 32 minutes.
The repeat of last year's high class final was less competitive this time, with Williams eventually overwhelming Sharapova on a hot Australia Day afternoon at Melbourne Park.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/01/ ... 058616.jpg" alt="After defeating Sharapova, Williams booked her place in the semi-final against Poland's Agnieszka Radwanska" class="blkBorder img-share" height="424" width="634">