Meanwhile, Radwanska booked her spot in the Australian Open semifinals for the second time, winning over Carla Suárez Navarro 6-1, 6-3 in the first match of the day on Rod Laver Arena.

Williams has a stellar track record at Melbourne Park, each of the six previous times she has won a quarterfinal she's gone on to snare the Australian Open title.

Radwanska is yet to lose in 2016, but Williams has won the tournament every time she has reached the semi-finals in Melbourne.

Australia Day began here Tuesday with anticipation for the quarterfinal match between rivals Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova.

Early on Tuesday it seemed Sharapova might challenge Williams: She broke Williams's serve to open the match and held serve for a 2-0 lead before Williams won the next three games. Plus, when I play her, I know automatically I have to step up my game. "Hopefully I can play my best tennis or I'll be in trouble", said the Pole. "She is very solid, like most Spanish players and I knew everything would come back to my side".

Williams went on a five-game roll until Sharapova held in the second set, and then finished it off in the seventh game after saving break points.

Heading into the match, Sharapova was serving strong-she fired 52 aces through four matches-and knew it was going to be a critical part of the match against Serena.

I just feel like I'm really confident in my game right now, not against her or against any other opponent, I'm just really looking at me right now. She broke back to make it level pegging at 2-2 as the Russian's serve faltered. I like the way she hits the ball.

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"To be honest, when I woke up I felt quite drained, quite exhausted", he said.

"It was super intense", Serena said after winning her 18th straight against the Russian.

The four-time Australian champion used a full array of shots, including some vintage backhands, in his 48 winners, to avenge two losses to Berdych at Wimbledon in 2010 and the 2012 US Open.

"I think this tournament in particular I've been trying to do different things and I've been having a lot of fun on the court", she said.

Down 5-4 and 0-30, she rallied to get to game point.

The world number one's incredible record against Sharapova dates back to an epic semi-final at the 2005 Australian Open, when she scraped home in a 2-6, 7-5, 8-6 thriller. "I think this will be a time to just get myself ready for a long year". He took an injury timeout following the second set and played with heavy strapping to his left leg for most of the third.

AZARENKA VS. KERBER: This is a rematch of the Brisbane International final on January 9 which Azarenka won in straight sets. "That makes me confident and encourages me for the next one".

Djokovic, meanwhile, was coming off a miserable fourth-round match against Gilles Simon in which he made a jaw-dropping 100 unforced errors, something not even Sharapova has done against Williams.