After the conclusion of the remaining quarter final matches, the final four at the Australian Open is now complete. Maria Sharapova won to set up an all Russian semi final clash with Ekaterina Makarova. While in the other half of the draw, Serena Williams will meet fellow American Madison Keys.
Sharapova vs. Bouchard
Sharapova outclassed seventh seed Eugenie Bouchard to move into the last four in Melbourne for the seventh time. The Russian second seed controlled the much anticipated match as she swept aside her 20-year-old opponent in just 78 minutes. It seems the 26-year-old's was looking to dominate Bouchard's serve, the Canadian winning only six point on her second serve all match, as she won comfortably 6-3 6-2. After a break-out 2014 for Bouchard, in which she won WTA Most Improved Player, 2015 has started well with this quarter-final appearance and a strong showing at the Hopman Cup. |
Makarova vs. Halep
Makarova makes it into the final four after she beat third seeded Simone Halep in straight sets, 6-4 6-0. The tenth seed has happy memories from Melbourne Park after previously making it into the fourth round five times, but this will be her first semi-final appearance at the Australian Open. The Russian, who raced to a 3-0 lead in the opening set in just nine minutes, completed her win in just 68 minutes and will now play in her second consecutive Grand Slam semi-final after losing to Serena Williams at the US Open last year. Halep, the 2014 French Open runner-up, was put under pressure from her left-handed opponents strong groundstrokes, as she falls at the same stage as in this tournament last year. |
Serena vs. Cibulkova
Top seed Williams beat the 2014 finalist to make it through to her sixth Australian Open semi-final, having gone on to win the trophy each year she's made it this far previously. The American completed the straightforward 6-2 6-2 win over Cibulkova, the eleventh seeded Slovakian, in just 65 minutes. Serena, who has been struggling with illness in recent days and was barely able to talk in her post-match on-court interview, served 15 aces throughout the match to move two matches away from her 19th Grand Slam, which would be just three short of Steffi Graf's Open Era record of 22 majors. |
Keys vs. Venus
Unseeded American Keys overcame a major injury scare in the second set to make the first Grand Slam semi-final of her career. The 19-year-old, who is the youngest player inside the top 25, left the court at 1-4 down in the second set to get treatment on a tight thigh muscle. Keys, who had to retire injured at Wimbledon last year due to the same problem, was able to tie the set at 4-4 when she returned before losing it 6-4. Venus has been healthy and playing well recently, after learning how to manage the symptoms of her Sjögren's syndrome, but was unable to cope with Keys' power in the third set. The reward for beating eighteenth seed Venus is a daunting match-up against her sister, Serena, in the first all-American Grand Slam semi-final since Serena beat Lindsay Davenport, who now coaches Keys, at the US Open in 2002. |