Serena Williams relieved to survive, Maria Sharapova through

Madrid: Serena Williams and Maria Sharapova stayed on course for a battle for the world number one slot in the Madrid Open final as they progressed into the last four with wins over Anabel Medina Garrigues and Kaia Kanepi respectively on Friday.

However, current number one Williams was given a huge scare by 30-year-old wildcard Garrigues before battling through 6-3, 0-6, 7-5.

The American hadn’t dropped a set all tournament until the Spaniard romped through the second set and Williams admitted she had to fight to up her intensity levels heading into the decider.

“I think it was definitely a battle. That’s the way to describe it. I obviously didn’t do much in the second set, and I think I gave her a lot of confidence to play better,” she said.

“I wasn’t really there. I wasn’t really in it. My feet weren’t moving. I don’t know what happened.

“To turn it around I got up earlier on the changeover and started doing high knees and just stretching and doing anything to try to get my intensity back up where it needed to be.”

“The fact is I was able to get through it. Tomorrow I start out at 0-0, so it’s important for me to let it go and just play a new match tomorrow.”

There were far fewer problems for Sharapova as she did continue her run of not losing a set so far in the Spanish capital with a comfortable 6-2, 6-4 win over World No.51 Kanepi.

The Russian was supreme on serve all afternoon as she only had to save on break point all match and breaks in the first and fifth games saw her take the first set 6-2.

Kanepi showed more resistance in the second, but the French Open champion broke again at 3-3 to edge ahead and served out with ease to set up a semi-final meeting with Ana Ivanovic or Angelique Kerber.

“I was just happy to get past the quarter-finals,” Sharapova said.

“I feel like I’ve been stuck in this tournament so it’s nice to be in that stage. I felt like I was facing a really good clay court player today. A lot of her success has come on clay.

“I faced her at the French Open where she had really good wins last year, so I know that she’s capable and she’s playing really well.

“So I was just really determined. I’m happy that I was able to win with that type of scoreline.”

Meanwhile, on Thursday, defending champion Roger Federer was dumped out of the Madrid Masters by world number 14 Kei Nishikori as the Japanese came through 6-4, 1-6, 6-3 in their third round clash.

Second seed Federer, who had just returned to the tour after a two-month break, joins world number one Novak Djokovic in being eliminated early in the Spanish capital and his lack of match practice showed.

One break was enough for Nishikori to take the opening set 6-4, but Federer roared back in the second to take it 6-1.

However, with the momentum seeming to be with the 17-time Grand Slam champion, it was Nishikori who edged ahead when he broke to move 3-1 in the third.

And after comfortably holding serve in his next two service games, the 23-year-old broke again to seal a first career win over Federer.

“He was my idol actually, so to beat him, that was one of my goals for my tennis career,” Nishikori told a press conference.

“That it happens on clay is amazing because, you know, it’s not my really favourite surface.

“I feel good, of course. I wasn’t really expecting this, it is not easy, 6-2 in the third, that’s not easy against him.”

Three-time champion Federer, who beat Nishikori in straight sets in their only other previous clash in Basel in 2011, admitted Nishikori was a deserving winner.

“I’m disappointed with my match. Today Nishikori played better and the best man won,” said Federer.

Rafael Nadal eased into the last eight with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Mikhail Youzhny and will next face either Tommy Haas of Germany or fellow Spaniard David Ferrer.

The 26-year-old Nadal now stands at 28-2 on the season as he looks to reach his seventh final since his comeback from a seven-month injury lay-off in February.

Andy Murray also progressed but had to come through a gruelling three hour battle with Gilles Simon before advancing 2-6, 6-4, 7-6(8-6) to set up a meeting with sixth seed Tomas Berdych who was victorious over Kevin Anderson 7-6 (7/5), 7-5.

It was one round too far for Novak Djokovic’s conqueror Grigor Dimitrov though as he was beaten 3-6, 6-4, 6-1 by Stanislaw Wawrinka.