Serena Williams, Federer Advance at Open

Although she is perhaps the greatest server of all time, Serena Williams' superior return told the story this time.

An ultra-competitive opening set eventually gave way to a landslide as the world No. 1 rolled to a 6-4, 6-1 win over Maria Sharapova to advance to the Australian Open semifinals.

For the 18th straight time, Williams upended her Russian opponent in piling on a win streak that dates back more than a decade -- 4,088 days to be exact.

"Doesn't matter who I'm playing, I just try to go out there and play the best I can," Williams said. "It's not necessarily anyone in particular."

In a titanic first set, No. 5 Sharapova broke Williams in the opening game and then held. The Russian stood firm on the baseline by taking balls early and keeping her opponent on her heels.

But after falling into a 2-0 hole, Williams reeled off six of the next eight games to take the early advantage. At 4-4, Williams fended off two break points in a grueling game. In the next game, Williams finally put away an open-court volley, her fourth set point, to secure the set.

"Yeah, I just started slow," Williams said. "I missed three or four easy shots. I felt like, 'All right, I didn't make those shots, but if I had made those shots, I probably would have won that game.' I just clung on to that and knew I could play better."

 Roger Federer has plenty to celebrate -- and not just because it's Australia Day.

The 17-time Grand Slam champion handed No. 6 Tomas Berdych a 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-4 beating to advance to the Australian Open semifinals for the 12th time in the past 13 years.

His reward? A 45th meeting with world No. 1 Novak Djokovic, who beat a Kei Nishikori in straight sets, on Thursday night.

At 34 years, 176 days, Federer is the oldest Aussie Open semifinalist since Colin Dibley in 1979.

The key number in this one: Federer was 24-of-29 on net approaches. Afterward, he reflected on his efficiency.

"You know, looking at the stats, it's an easy thing," Federer said. "I mean, I do feel really good at net since a few years now. It's where it all sort of started for me when I came on tour. I know how it works up there. I still think there's room [for] improvement.

"Every player manages to defend or pass it differently. The question is: Do you come in off a low ball because you're being dragged in, or are you coming in on your terms? Yeah, how do these people return?"