Maria Sharapova routed fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-3 on Wednesday, setting up an Australian Open semifinal against Petra Kvitova.
Fourth seed Sharapova sailed into the last four in 87 minutes with Makarova unable to reproduce the kind of tennis that dumped Serena Williams out of the competition in round four.
"I thought she was going to play really well today coming off a big win, probably her biggest in her career," Sharapova told the tournament's website. "It was just really important for me to not give her much of a look at the open court."
The 2008 champion, who has won both their previous encounters, hit 26 winners to Makarova's ten, but also registered 32 unforced errors against Makarova's 20.
It completes the semifinal lineup after second-seeded Czech Kvitova rallied in the second set to oust Italy's unseeded Sara Errani 6-4, 6-4.
Sharapova will be out for revenge against Kvitova after the Czech beat her in last year's rollercoaster Wimbledon final 6-3, 6-4.
"It will certainly be tough," Sharapova told the tournament's website. «I’ve lost to her the last couple of times, obviously the big one in Wimbledon where she played really well."
Belgium's Kim Clijsters, who beat world No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki in the quarterfinals, plays third seed Victoria Azarenka in the other semifinal.
