MELBOURNE, Australia — Maria Sharapova just keeps getting better at the Australian Open.
Two days after ending top-ranked Justine Henin’s 32-match winning streak in the quarterfinals, Sharapova outclassed Jelena Jankovic 6-3, 6-1 today to advance to the final Saturday and a bid for her third Grand Slam singles title.
Sharapova, who lost in the final last year to Serena Williams, will play Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic, who defeated Slovakia’s Daniela Hantuchova 0-6, 6-3, 6-4 today.
It’s the second time in four majors the Serbian duo has made it to the semis, repeating their run in the French Open.
The 20-year-old Sharapova, who hasn’t dropped a set in six matches at Melbourne Park this year, won her first major at Wimbledon in 2004, then added the U.S. Open title in 2006.
She led 5-0 in the opening set before No. 3 Jankovic came back with two service breaks to pull to 5-3. But Sharapova clinched it on her sixth set point when an attempted drop shot was ripped back across the net and past a stretching Jankovic.
“I had a bit of a letdown. I was too good for my own level,” Sharapova said of her first-set lapse. “But I’m really happy to get back in the final.”
Sharapova broke Jankovic’s serve to open the second set, after which the Serbian player received treatment for an apparent back strain. Trailing 3-0, Jankovic again had treatment, laying outstretched on a towel while a physiotherapist massaged her lower back area.
Looking increasingly as if she was playing with pain, Jankovic had trouble getting to several balls, and Sharapova won the match when Jankovic hit a backhand wide.
On the men’s side Wednesday, No. 1 Roger Federer ousted James Blake 7-5, 7-6 (5), 6-4 and next will meet No. 3 Novak Djokovic, who defeated No. 5 David Ferrer of Spain 6-0, 6-3, 7-5.
Rafael Nadal will play unseeded Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the other semifinal.
Australian Open: At a glance
A look at Wednesday’s and today’s play at the Australian Open tennis championships:
Today’s winners: Women: No. 4 Ana Ivanovic, No. 5 Maria Sharapova.
Today’s losers: Women: No. 3 Jelena Jankovic, No. 9 Daniela Hantuchova.
On court today: Men’s semifinal: No. 2 Rafael Nadal vs. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
Stat of the day: 4 — Number of consecutive Grand Slam semifinals reached by Novak Djokovic, completing a personal best
Quote of the day: “There’s no excuse. I was behaving very badly.” — Djokovic, apologizing for his outburst after several spectators yelled during his serve
TV: Men’s semifinal, ESPN2, 1:30 a.m. (repeat at 1 p.m.)
Results
AT MELBOURNE PARK
TODAY
SINGLES
Women’s semifinals
Maria Sharapova (5), Russia, def. Jelena Jankovic (3), Serbia, 6-3, 6-1.
Ana Ivanovic (4), Serbia, def. Daniela Hantuchova (9), Slovakia, 0-6, 6-3, 6-4.
WEDNESDAY
SINGLES
Men’s quarterfinals
Novak Djokovic (3), Serbia, def. David Ferrer (5), Spain, 6-0, 6-3, 7-5.
Roger Federer (1), Switzerland, def. James Blake (12), United States, 7-5, 7-6 (5), 6-4.
Women’s quarterfinals
Daniela Hantuchova (9), Slovakia, def. Agnieszka Radwanska (29), Poland, 6-2, 6-2.
Ana Ivanovic (4), Serbia, def. Venus Williams (8), United States, 7-6 (3), 6-4.
