MELBOURNE, Jan 25 — Russia’s Maria Sharapova today booked her spot in the last four of the Australian Open with a surprisingly simple 6-2, 6-3 win over compatriot Ekaterina Makarova.

Makarova had stunned five-times champion Serena Williams in the previous round but she was out of her depth against the world No. 4, who closed out the win in just under 90 minutes.

Sharapova, who beat Ana Ivanovic to win the Melbourne Park title in 2008, swarmed all over Makarova’s weak second serve and routinely swatted them back faster than they came at her.

She will now get the chance to avenge her 2011 Wimbledon final defeat to Petra Kvitova after the Czech bounced Italian Sara Errani out of the quarter-finals. — Reuters