Sharapova cruises into Australian final

Maria Sharapova's relentless pursuit of the Australian Open title continued as she defeated Jelena Jankovic 6-3 6-1 to make it through to a second successive final at Melbourne Park.

Sharapova, who outclassed world number one and former Australian champions Justine Henin in the quarter-finals, handed out similar punishment to her Serbian opponent, who appeared to be struggling with injury in the second set.

Nevertheless, the 20-year-old produced another imposing display on the Rod Laver Arena, where her power and athleticism was simply too much for Jankovic to handle in the opening exchanges.

Sharapova took charge early in the match, breaking Jankovic's first service game after the Serb missed a straightforward volley that would have seen her clinch it.

The Russian consolidated her advantage in the next game despite recording two double faults and then took a 4-0 lead when she broke the third seed for a second time with a stunning return of serve that left her opponent flat-footed.

Jankovic then survived three set points on her next service game to finally get on the board and secured her first break of serve in the following game when Sharapova again produced a pair of double faults, including one on break point.

The Serb fought off another set point to hold but Sharapova overcame yet another double fault to finally close out the first set 6-3.

Sharapova started the second in equally ruthless fashion, breaking Jankovic's serve for the third time in the match and her opponent was forced to call for medical assistance for a lower back problem at the game's conclusion.

Upon the resumption, Sharapova held her own serve before breaking Jankovic once more to take a 3-0 lead and after the Russian won the next game, an increasingly immobile Jankovic started to take on a more disconsolate look on the other side of the net.

Despite being in obvious discomfort, Jankovic held to take her first game of the second set but it proved in vain as Sharapova closed out the match with another break of serve to book her place in the final for the second year in a row.

Sharapova admitted she surprised even herself in the first set but insisted she always remained wary of Jankovic, particularly when the third seed fought back to 5-3.

'I was up 5-0 and I was playing too good for my own level,' Sharapova said afterwards.

'I was playing good tennis but as everyone knows Jelena plays very well when she's behind. But I'm really pleased that I'm back in the final.'

The Russian is also hoping her big-game experience will stand her in good stead for Saturday's showpiece encounter after losing out last year to Serena Williams.

'I had the experience coming into last year's final and it didn't turn out too good,' she added. 'I'm glad I was able to play such good tennis and I hope that I can play the same kind of tennis in the final.

'I really hope I can take advantage of the experience I have behind me. I'm looking forward to being in the final and I hope I can produce some good tennis.'