Maria Sharapova has continued her bid for a second Australian Open title by beating Ekaterina Makarova 6-3 6-2 to reach the final in Melbourne.
Sharapova overcame a nervy start to save two break points in the opening game in the match, before taking control by breaking her fellow Russian in the next game.
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Makarova struggled to reproduce the same form on serve that she had showed for much of the tournament, but Sharapova's own difficulty finding her rhythm gifted the 10th seed a break in the seventh game.
However, Sharapova immediately hit back to regain the advantage, and the second seed held her nerve to take the opener.
The setback piled the pressure on Makarova, and a below-par performance showed no signs of coming to an end as a flurry of errors allowed Sharapova to race into a 4-0 lead in the second set.
Makarova was unable to produce a dramatic response to Sharapova's dominance, and it was a routine finish for the second seed, who will play in a Melbourne final for the fourth time.
Callum Mulvihill
