Such was Maria Sharapova’s domination in her Australian Open quarter-final victory over Eugenie Bouchard that she has no need to worry about another angry call from father Yuri.
The world No.2 needed only 78 minutes to see off the challenge from the seventh-seeded Canadian 6-3 6-2 on Tuesday, setting up the first all-Russian grand slam semi-final since 2009.
Her opponent on Thursday will be 10th seed Ekaterina Makarova, who did a demolition job on world No.3 Simona Halep from Romania, winning 6-3 6-0.
The one-sided nature of Sharapova’s win over Bouchard was a world away from the her three-set struggle in the second round against unheralded countrywoman Alexandra Panova, which prompted her dad to jump onto the phone from the United States and dish out a few home truths.
“I don’t want to face that phone call with my father too many times during a tournament,” said Sharapova.
“It was like, I’d better get my stuff together.
“It was important to change some things around and just to come out with a different perspective and play better.”
Pushed to reveal the contents of her father’s message, Sharapova said a nice version would be to say it was “unacceptable”.
“He said `I don’t know why you’re suffering out there for nothing’,” said the Russian.
“Make it easier for yourself.”
If it wasn’t exactly easy for Sharapova against Bouchard – who took the five-time major winner to three tight sets in the semis at last year’s French Open – it was certainly much less of a struggle than expected.
Sharapova made only 18 unforced errors, compared to 30 from the racquet of the erratic Bouchard.
Although Sharapova and Makarova are much the same age, the No.2 seed said they had only practised together a few times during the Fed Cup several years ago.
“Besides playing another Russian, I’m also facing an opponent that wasn’t necessarily a favourite coming into that stage,” said Sharapova.
“That’s always a tricky situation because she’s going to come into that match free and almost happy to be in that situation, and that’s dangerous.”
Makarova is in career-best form, having reached the final four at a major for the first time at last year’s US Open.
The 26-year-old jumped the Romanian at the start of each set and never let her back into the contest, winning in 69 minutes to reach her first semi at Melbourne Park.
It was a desperately disappointing display from Halep, who made a giant leap in the rankings from 11th to three last year and was expected to challenge for a first major title in Melbourne.
Makarova was out of the blocks quickly to lead 3-0 in the opening set and was even more commanding in a second set that lasted just half an hour.
She is fully expecting a much more formidable challenge against Sharapova.
“I’ve never beaten her, so it will be tough,” said Makarova, who has advanced to the last eight at Melbourne Park for the third time in four years.
“Definitely she’s a great fighter, like here in the second round when she almost lost but turned it around.”
It will be the first time that two Russian women have met in a grand slam semi since Dinara Safina beat Vera Zvonareva at Melbourne Park six years ago.
