Sharapova into Brisbane tennis semis

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.

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