Sharapova goes through

Maria Sharapova survived a second-set stumble to advance to the Wimbledon semi-finals for the third year in succession.

Sharapova led Elena Dementieva 6-1 4-0 on Centre Court before losing the next three games in a row and facing two more break points in the eighth game.

But the 2004 champion dug deep to hold serve and eventually secure a 6-1 6-4 victory in one hour and 10 minutes.

Sharapova needed just 27 minutes to win the opening set, the 19-year-old Russian saving a break point in the opening game and then immediately breaking her compatriot as she raced into a 3-0 lead.

Dementieva, making her first appearance in the last eight at the All England Club, got on the scoreboard in the fourth game but her fragile serve cost her another break in the sixth game and Sharapova served out with ease.

Sharapova had won four of the pair’s five previous meetings, including a 6-1 6-2 thrashing in the final at Indian Wells earlier this year.

It looked like being a depressingly similar outcome when Dementieva was broken to love in the opening game of the second set and broken again in the third.

At least the 24-year-old from Moscow saw the funny side when an idiotic streaker decided to interrupt proceedings, while Sharapova simply turned to face the back wall and bounce a ball while waiting to serve.

Having held serve to lead 4-0, it appeared Sharapova was just moments away from sealing victory, but she lost the next three games in a row, losing her serve with two double faults in the space of three points.

And when Dementieva held two more break points in the eighth game, what had been a walkover was threatening to turn into a contest.

The number seven seed held serve to force Sharapova to serve out for the match, and the teenager did exactly that to seal a well-deserved victory.