布里斯班赛小威14连胜莎拉波娃挺进决赛

A shoulder injury has been the bane of Maria Sharapova’s life for most of the last twelve months and before that it was Serena Williams who had defeated the Russian on thirteen straight occasions.

Sharapova’s shoulder and her game would come up against its toughest challenge yet in the shape of the world number one.

Both players looking fit and raring to go with the first major of the season just over one week away. The defending champion here in Brisbane will be the favourite for that event, and perhaps even more so, after this performance.

Serena had already broken once but Sharapova broke back but once again williams was too fast and hitting too well. This sparkling shot put her four two ahead and she went on to win the first set 6-2.

Sharapova, who starts the season at world number four, fought back at the beginning fo the second set and had Serena on the back foot. This pass getting her an early break of serve. But williams managed to take the second set to a tie break and with the mini break served at 8-points-to 7 to win it.

The serving in the match had been patchy but that was a beauty Williams makes it fourteen staright wins against Sharapova.

"Yes, it definitely could have went (gone) either way, Maria was playing so well, it’s a wonder that she took some time off. You definitely can’t tell, so she gave me a really tough tie-break and a tough match today." Serena Williams, World Number One said.

Azarenka comes from behind to make final

In the second semi final, it was the number two seed against the number four. It was the lower ranked Jelena Jankovic who took the first set but Victoria Azarenak battled back to even things at one set a peice.

Into the decider.. and Azarenka serving but the Serb finding a smashing backhand cross court. But Jankovic was unable to break back and was then under pressure in her next service game.

Azarenka with a swift return and she made Jankovic pay for not taking her chance earlier and the Belarussian was well on her way to booking a place in the final and although the world number eight made a bit of a fight of it, Azarenka was able to move through to a meeting with Serena Williams on Saturday when Jankovic finds the net.

She was very pleased about it, quite justifiably, having come from a set down to take victory.