Top seed Maria Sharapova has stormed into the Brisbane International semi-finals, powering past Spain’s Carla Suarez Navarro in straight sets.
World No.2 Sharapova appears in ominous form ahead of the Australian Open after sealing Thursday’s 6-1 6-3 quarter-final triumph over the seventh seed in just over an hour.
The five-time grand slam winner has dropped just five games in her two matches to date.
She booked a semi-final showdown with Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina who staged a stunning comeback to oust German third seed Angelique Kerber.
World No.28 Svitolina was a set and a double break down, trailing 3-0 in the second, before launching a remarkable turnaround, claiming the quarter-final 4-6 7-5 6-3 in just over two hours.
Svitolina is a huge boxing fan and idolises compatriot Wladimir Klitschko, the world heavyweight champion.
And the 20-year-old showed plenty of fight on Thursday, winning four straight games to turn around the second set.
World No.9 Kerber, 26, looked in control in the second set before suffering a centre court meltdown.
Former Wimbledon and US Open semi-finalist Kerber committed a total of 42 unforced errors in a major worry ahead of the year’s opening grand slam.
Svitolina needed three match points, but finally clinched it with a brilliant drop shot.
Svitolina – a former junior Wimbledon champion – was the toast of Pat Rafter Arena just days after playing the villain by crushing Aussie hopeful Ajla Tomljanovic in the previous round.