Williams into final

Serena Williams bravely fought back from the brink of defeat to beat Maria Sharapova in a thrilling Australian Open semi-final in Melbourne.

Sharapova twice served for the match on Rod Laver Arena, on the second occasion Williams saving three atch points.

The 2003 champion then broke Sharapova’s serve in the 14th game of an epic 66-minute final set to claim a 2-6 7-5 8-6 victory in two hours 39 minutes.

The 23-year-old will play either top seed Lindsay Davenport or surprise semi-finalist Nathalie Dechy in Saturday’s final.

“It definitely lived up to everyone’s expectations and it was a lot of fun. I am really happy to get through,” said an ecstatic Williams, without a Grand Slam title since Wimbledon 2003.

“I am so excited to be in another final, it has been such a tough 12 months for me. I want to thank everyone for supporting me.”

Sharapova was the only active player to have met Williams at least twice who held a winning record against the American.

All three previous meetings took place last year, Williams winning the first clash in Miami but Sharapova emerging victorious in the Wimbledon final and season-ending tour championships in Los Angeles.

And the 17-year-old Russian looked certain to make it three wins in succession when she raced through the opening set and broke to lead 5-4 in the second.

The fourth seed chose that moment to serve her worst game of the match so far however, Williams breaking back and winning the next two games as well to level the match.

After an early exchange of breaks at the start of the decider, Sharapova again gained the upper hand as both players struggled to cope with the heat and demands of a match dominated by long rallies and punctuated by a collection of grunts, shrieks and screams from both players.

The Wimbledon champion broke in the seventh game and came out at 5-4 to serve for the match again. This time she forged three match points, but each time Williams refused to concede defeat and eventually broke back for 5-5.

The former world number one then saved three more break points to crucially keep her nose in front and finally Sharapova, who had spent eight hours on court in the previous rounds, cracked under the pressure.

Sharapova was disappointed to lose from such a dominant position but knows she has many years ahead of her at the top of the game.

“I gave it all I had,” said the teenager. “I played from my heart but I didn’t take my chances and that’s what this game is about. If you don’t take your chances you lose.

“I thought it was a great match. I gave it all I had and so did she. The match could have gone either way. I think she got better as the match went on. She started to pick up her level.

“Of course I’m sad and it’s a tough one to lose but I have a long way ahead of me. I’m 17 and I got to the semi-finals of the Australian Open. Nothing is negative.

“She is one of the best competitors out there. She knows how to turn it around and that comes from experience. Hopefully I will learn and improve.”