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MELBOURNE. — A fired-up Serena Williams shot down last year’s finalist Dominika Cibulkova yesterday to set up an Australian Open tennis semi-final with teen Madison Keys, as defending men’s champion Stan Wawrinka crushed Japanese hopes.

Unlike her earlier sluggish matches, Serena was in the zone from the off against the dangerous Slovak, a steely look in her eyes as she walked onto Rod Laver Arena soon after fellow American Keys knocked out her sister Venus.

The powerful world number one blasted 15 aces to pummel the 11th seed 6-2, 6-2 in just over an hour and make her 26th Grand Slam semi-final. She has gone on to win 18 major titles.

“I feel I played well, I felt I had to. I feel like when you’re going up against a player like that who is confident on the court . . . I knew that I needed to really play well or go home,” said Serena, who has been battling a cold. — AFP.