Sharapova in Melbourne semis after topping compatriot Makarova

Get short URL

Published time: January 22, 2013 08:09
Edited time: January 22, 2013 14:03

Russia’s Maria Sharapova collected a straight-set win over compatriot Ekaterina Makarova to book a place in the Australian Open’s semi finals.

­Makarova gave battle to her in-form rival in the opening games, but then Sharapova made two breaks to take the first set.

Maria continued to dominate in the second set, with the No.2 seed coming out as a confident winner 6-2 6-2 after just over an hour spent on court.

After the match, Sharapova confessed that she has her little superstitions, which help her remain confident and win.

“It’s all experience,” the 25-year-old told the Australian Open’s official website. “I go through routines that work for me, I go with the flow of routines. I go to the same restaurants where I’m familiar with the food. Maybe all of us have a little bit of that in us.”

Sharapova, who hasn’t dropped a set in Melbourne, will challenge sixth seeded Na Li of China for in spot in the final.

The Chinese also needed two sets to bet Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, but this was an a lot tougher encounter, 7-5 6-3.

One of the semi-finalists in the men’s competition is also known, as David Ferrer of Spain survived an exhausting five-set marathon against countryman, Nicolas Almagro.

Almagro won two sets in a row and served for the match in the third, but Ferrer produced a stunning comeback to claim a 4-6 4-6 7-5 7-6 6-2 victory.