Serena Williams moved one step closer to her 19th Grand Slam title by beating Dominika Cibulkova 6-2, 6-2 in 65 minutes Wednesday to advance to the Australian Open semifinals.
The No. 1-ranked Williams displayed her immense power, reeling off heavy returns that included 58 winners compared to 38 from Cibulkova, last year’s runner-up.
Williams played on Rod Laver Arena right after her older sister, Venus, lost her quarterfinal to 19-year-old American Madison Keys. The loss dashed hopes for the first Williams sisters semifinal at a Grand Slam in years but sets up an all-American matchup of the young generation against the old guard.
All five previous times Williams has advanced to the semifinals she has won the title at Melbourne Park.
THE RESULTS:
Men’s singles: Quarterfinals: 4-Stan Wawrinka (Sui) bt 5-Kei Nishikori (Jpn) 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(6); 1-Novak Djokovic (Srb) bt 8-Milos Raonic (Can) 7-6(5), 6-4, 6-2.
Doubles: Quarterfinals: 6-Jean-Julien Rojer (Ned) & Horia Tecau (Rou) bt 14-Dominic Inglot (Gbr) & Florin Mergea (Rou) 6-4, 7-6(3); Simone Bolelli & Fabio Fognini (Ita) bt Pablo Cuevas (Uru) & David Marrero (Esp) 7-6(5), 7-6(5).
Women’s singles: Quarterfinals: Madison Keys (USA) bt 18-Venus Williams (USA) 6-3, 4-6, 6-4; 1-Serena Williams (USA) bt 11-Dominika Cibulkova (Svk) 6-2, 6-2.
Doubles: Semifinals: Bethanie Mattek-Sands (USA) & Lucie Safarova (Cze) bt 16-Julia Goerges & Anna-Lena Groenfeld (Ger) 6-0 retd; 14-Chan Yung-Jan (Tpe) & Zheng Jie (Chn) bt 13-Michaella Krajicek (Ned) & Barbora Zahlavova Strycova (Cze) 6-3, 6-2.
Mixed doubles: Quarterfinals: 7-Martina Hingis (Sui) & Leander Paes (Ind) bt 4-Andrea Hlavackova (Cze) & Alexander Peya (Aus) 6-3, 6-1; 1-Sania Mirza (Ind) & Bruno Soares (Bra) bt Casey Dellacqua (Aus) & John Peers (Aus) 6-2, 6-2.
Junior boys singles: Third round: Marc Polmans (Aus) bt Sumit Nagal 6-1, 6-1.