Sharapova and Clijsters reach final four

Top seed Maria Sharapova has battled through to the semi-finals of the Australian Open and a match-up with Kim Clijsters after overcoming Russian Anna Chakvetadze at Melbourne Park.

Sharapova was expected to down the 12th seed with clinical ease in the early quarter-final on the Rod Laver Arena but was made to fight all the way for a 7-6 (7-5) 7-5.win