Madrid Open: Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova take different routes to semi-finals

Serena dropped just three games en route a thumping win against Navarro in the quarter-finals.

Serena Williams was ruthless as she swept aside Carla Suarez Navarro with the intensity of a gale storm in the quarter-final match-up at the Madrid Open.

Serena, who has expressed concern over her recent form, produced a near immaculate performance as she registered a resounding 6-1, 6-2 win to sail through to the semi-finals.

Serena will face 2014 Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova, who breezed past Irina-Camelia Begu in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, in the semi-finals. Despite the World Number one boasting a 5-0 record against the Czech, the two have been involved in a couple of close contests and the semi-final at Madrid promises to be a riveting contest.

Serena said that she was satisfied at having emerged victorious against a proven clay-court specialist such as Navarro. "Playing a really good clay-courter today is not easy; I think she proved that she has an attacking game”, said Serena.

Serena, who at the point of having booked her spot in the semi-finals wasn’t sure of whom she might be facing, said - "I love Petra. She's a great girl and a great player on top of that. It's always good to see those two combined; Begu, I've actually never played.”

Sharapova made to sweat by Wozniacki

Reigning French Open Champion Maria Sharapova, however, was made to work hard for her semi-final berth by former World Number one Caroline Wozniacki, who put up a commendable performance to push the Russian World Number three to the brink of defeat.

Sharapova began the match on an ominous note, giving nothing away as she took the first set 6-1. Wozniacki, however, seemingly unfazed by a disastrous first-set came back sharply to take the second set but ultimately ran out of fight and ended up losing the match, 1-6, 6-3, 3-6.

The 28-year-old Russian was lavish in her praise for Wozniacki. "She's improved her consistency tremendously; She got in really good shape at the end of last year and I think that helped her. She was able to turn many defense situations into offense”, Sharapova. said.

Sharapova will face compatriot Svetlana Kuznetsova, who beat Lucie Safarova 7-5, 6-7 (5), 7-6 (3), in the semi-final.