Serena, Sharapova hot favourites in Open semis

MELBOURNE, Jan 28 (AFP): Top seed Serena Williams remains on a collision course with arch-rival Maria Sharapova after rampaging into the Australian Open semi-finals Wednesday.

The 18-time Grand Slam champion was at her brutal best, crushing last year's finalist Dominka Cibulkova in straight sets to set up an all-American last four showdown with unseeded teenager Madison Keys.

The other semi-final clash on Thursday is an all-Russian affair between second seed Sharapova, who owns five Grand Slam titles, and Ekaterina Makarova, seeded tenth.

Both star players have hit top form as the tournament progresses and are hot favourites to advance to Saturday's final.