The 36-year-old powered past Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 7-6 (7/3) and into her third Australian Open semi, while Vandeweghe stunned French Open champion Garbine Muguruza 6-4, 6-0 in a blitz of big hitting.

Coco Vandeweghe of the US celebrates her victory against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza during their women’s singles quarter-final match on day nine of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 24. AFP

“What can I say. Just trying to live the dream,” Williams said of her longevity, after becoming the oldest woman since a 37-year-old Martina Navratilova at Wimbledon 1994 to make a Slam semi.

“I have no exact answer, except I do know how to play tennis, so that’s helpful. If you can get the ball in, it’s even more helpful.”

It is a remarkable feat for Williams, who made her professional debut in 1994 and is enjoying a late-career renaissance following a long battle with a rare autoimmune disorder.

She made the same round at Wimbledon last year but had not got this far at Melbourne Park since 2003, when she beat Justine Henin only to lose to sister Serena in the final.

Henin is long retired but Serena is still going strong and plays her quarter-final, against Johanna Konta, on Wednesday, with an all-Williams title match still on the cards. Venus Williams also made the last four at Melbourne in 2001, losing to then world number one Martina Hingis, another veteran who is playing doubles at this year’s Australian Open.Despite surprise-package Vandeweghe showing imperious form, Williams is brimming with confidence and believes she can go on to win her first Grand Slam since Wimbledon in 2008.

“Why shouldn’t I? I try to believe. Should I look across the net and believe the person across the net deserves it more?” she said.

“This mentality is not how champions are made. I’d like to be a champion, in particular this year. The mentality I walk on court with is: I deserve this.”

The seven-time Grand Slam winner is yet to drop a set in Melbourne and was composed against Pavlyuchenkova, who had knocked out 11th seed Elina Svitolina and Svetlana Kuznetsova, seeded eight, on her way to the quarter-finals.

But Vandeweghe will be a different proposition.

Vandeweghe, like Williams one of the tallest women on the circuit at 6ft 1ins (1.85 metres), she is supremely confident and in fine touch, having stunned world number one Angelique Kerber before upsetting Muguruza. “I really wasn’t feeling great out there. I was nervous… I was second-guessing myself,” said the 25-year-old, whose mother was an Olympic swimmer and whose grandfather played basketball for the New York Knicks.

Mugged Muguruza admits she was taken by surprise

Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland serves against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France during their men’s singles quarter-final match on day nine of the Australian Open tennis tournament in Melbourne on January 24. AFP

Melbourne: Garbine Muguruza said she was taken by surprise by a brilliant Coco Vandeweghe after her upset defeat in the Australian Open quarter-finals on Tuesday.

The French Open champion was blasted off court by the unseeded American, including an embarrassingly one-sided second set in the 6-4, 6-0 loss.

“I was surprised. I think she played unbelievable. Three times we played in the past, she didn’t show this level,” Muguruza said.

“She played very good. Her serve, her shots were there. She barely missed.” Despite winning at Roland Garros last year Muguruza, 23, struggled with consistency in 2016.

But she had been in good touch at the season-opening Brisbane International and in Melbourne, until the big-hitting and confident Vandeweghe came along.

The American described her second set performance as “like a freight train, you couldn’t stop it”, with Muguruza having no answers.

“I’m very happy. I think it’s a very good start of the year. I trained hard to kind of start well,” Vandeweghe said.

“Even though I felt my body wasn’t 100 percent and I didn’t know how far I was going to go here, but I think I went pretty far.”

Raonic’s bomb serve could explode Nadal bid

Melbourne: Rafael Nadal knows he must find a way to defuse the booming serve of Milos Raonic on Wednesday if he is to stay on course for a dream Australian Open final with Roger Federer.

The chances of a ninth Grand Slam final between the old rivals have dramatically improved after the shock exits of top seeds Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic put the title up for grabs. But 30-year-old Nadal, the 14-time Grand Slam champion, first has to get past third seed Raonic, the highest-ranked player still standing in the men’s quarter-finals. The Canadian, yet to win his first major title, suffered heartbreak in last year’s Melbourne semi-finals when a groin injury put paid to his chances against Murray.

The winner will face either Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov or Belgian David Goffin in the semi-final in the bottom half of the draw.

In its decision, released Tuesday morning, the court cited Sharapova’s apparent lack of knowledge that the drug she was taking — a prescription heart medication called meldonium that can improve blood flow — had been banned by anti-doping regulators. She had appealed the two-year sentence, calling it “unfairly harsh” in a post on Facebook.

In another post following Tuesday’s decision, Sharapova called it one of her “happiest days, as I found out I can return to tennis in April.” She also called on the International Tennis Federation to look into better ways to notify athletes of changes to doping regulations.

Red Ball Girls Umangi Thiyanbarawatte

Red Ball Boys. Kevin Manaweera

Orange Ball Girls. Judith Samuel.

Orange Ball Boys Sawmya Sathsara.

Girls Under 10 Ravi Whebandara,

Boys Under 10 Sanahaudaya Bandara.

Girls Under 12 Sehani Imanga,

Boys Under 12 Wenuka Kithnula

Girls Under 14 Singles Tiara Beneragama,

Boys Under 14 Singles Isuru Peiris

Girls Under 14 doubles Samadi Denili,

Boys Under 14 Doubles Luca Kngse, Isuru Peiris,

Boys Under 18 Singles Udya Chandran Srinath.

Senior over 45 Singles Sirimal Kannagara,

Senior Over 45 Doubles Sirimal Kannangara Rohan Fernando.

Mixed Doubles Ashen Silva and Dileka Daniel

Men’s Dobubles Prsanna Athuda, Sean Sanderson.

Men’s Singles. Herra Ashiq

Djokovic moved into the quarter-finals in New York for the 10th consecutive year, beating 21 year old Kyle Edmund 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 in Arthur Ashe Stadium. In the last eight, the defending champion will face ninth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for the 22nd time. The Serbian leads their FedEx ATP Head2Head series 15-6, including 11 of their past 12 meetings. Tsonga advanced to the quarter-finals with a four-set win against American Jack Sock.

“I was pleased,” said Djokovic. “Very pleased, except a little drop in the level in the third set, midway through the third set. Other than that, everything was great. It’s good to play an entire match, considering I had not much time spent on the court in past couple of rounds. So far I only played night sessions. I actually like playing night sessions very much. Hopefully the next one can be also night session.”

The two-time US Open champion hadn’t played a full match since 29 August, when he beat Pole Jerzy Janowicz 6-3, 5-7, 6-2, 6-1 in the first round. Czech left-hander Jiri Vesely withdrew before their second-round match because of inflammation to his left forearm. Djokovic was leading his third-round match against Mikhail Youzhny 4-2 before the Russian retired because of a back injury.

“This particular situation I [have] never had in my Grand Slam career,” Djokovic, a 14-year tour veteran, had said.

But he looked focused from the start against Edmund, who was playing in the fourth round of a Grand Slam championship for the first time. Djokovic gained two breaks and lost only two points on his first serve in the opener. The second set was more of the same, and after a little more than one hour, Djokovic held a two-set lead against Edmund, No. 84 in the Emirates ATP Rankings.

WATCH NOW: Why Fans Love Novak Djokovic

But Edmund blasted his forehand more and made Djokovic worry in the third set. The Brit, who was playing in Arthur Ashe Stadium for the first time, fell behind an early break but marched back to lead 3-2 before Djokovic took the final set.

“I enjoyed the experience,” said Edmund. “It was obviously a tough match. [I] came off a lot happier than I was during the match just because I got something going and started to impose myself a lot better. So that was good. [I’ve] just a lot of learning to do from it, which is a really good thing. To play the World No. 1 on the biggest tennis court in the world, doesn’t get much better than that. It’s been a great tournament for me. Loads and loads of positives, the way I’ve been playing. The good thing is, I feel like there’s a lot of stuff I can improve on and get better, as well, and the level I’m playing at.”

Djokovic’s left wrist, which he said had bothered him last month, looked fine but the 29 year old received treatment on his right arm for the second match of the tournament. Early on in the third set, a trainer massaged Djokovic’s right elbow. A trainer also had treated Djokovic’s right arm during his first-round match.

World number two Murray faces the controversial 31-year-old for the first time since Munich in 2015 when Rosol bumped into him at a changeover during their quarter-final.

“No one likes you on the tour,” Murray told him. “Everyone hates you.”

But Murray, the reigning Wimbledon and Olympic champion, insists that the bad blood is a thing of the past and will not impact their opening round meeting at Flushing Meadows next week.

“I spoke to him after the match and it was fine. A few things happened when we were on the court,” said Murray on Friday.

“I have actually gotten along fine with him apart from that day. He’s a tough, tough opponent, a big, strong guy. He goes for his shots and takes a lot of risks.”

Rosol, ranked at 93 in the world, rose to prominence in 2012 when he dumped Rafael Nadal out of Wimbledon.

Raonic beat the seven-time champion 6-3, 6-7 (3), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 on Centre Court, handing the Swiss great his first loss ever in the Wimbledon semifinals after 10 straight wins.

The 25-year-old Raonic became the first Canadian man in history to advance to the final of a Grand Slam tournament. The only other Canadian to get this far was Eugenie Bouchard, the women’s runner-up at Wimbledon in 2014.

Raonic avenged a Wimbledon semifinal loss to Federer in straight sets two years ago.

In Sunday’s final, he’ll face the winner of the semifinal match between 2013 champion Andy Murray and 2010 runner-up Tomas Berdych

Sixth seed Raonic triumphed 6-3, 6-7 (3/7), 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 and goes on to face second seed Andy Murray, the 2013 champion, It was 25-year-old Raonic’s first win on grass against a top 10 opponent and shattered Federer’s hopes of going on to claim a record eighth All England Club crown and 18th major.

“There was a little opening and I took it,” said Raonic who looked down and out in the fourth set.

“It’s a big impact for Canada. Hopefully, it will be even bigger if I win on Sunday.”

After weathering an early storm, Federer had been in complete control of the semi-final, his 10th at the tournament, until the tie turned suddenly and dramatically in the fourth set.

The 34-year-old, bidding to become the oldest finalist in 42 years, squandered three break points in the set and slipped from 40-0 up on serve in the 12th game.

Federer, whose last Grand Slam crown came at Wimbledon in 2012, had already required five sets to get past Marin Cilic in the quarter-finals, saving three match points in the process.

And the effort took its toll on the 17-time major winner in the decider where he needed treatment on his right thigh and jarred his left knee and foot in a worrying fall.

Raonic, nine years his junior, pounced for a 3-1 lead while Federer had to save two more break points in the sixth game.

The Canadian held hs nerve and claimed victory when Federer went wide with ich condemned the Swiss star to his first loss in a Wimbledon semi-final.

Raonic finished with 23 aces and 75 winners while Federer converted just one of nine break points.

Raonic, playing in his second Wimbledon semi-final after losing to Federer at the same stage two years ago, came out blasting from the start.

He carved out and converted the only break point of the first set for a 3-1 lead before unleashing the fastest serve of the tournament of 144mph (231.7km/h) in the fifth game.

Federer squandered four set points in the 10th game of the second set, the last of which off a sloppy backhand.

But the veteran wasn’t to be denied when Raonic left the door open again in the tiebreaker with his sixth double fault of the tie.

The Swiss soon went to another three set points and this time he pounced, levelling the match when a Raonic backhand stab drifted wide.

Federer broke for the first time in the semi-final for a 4-3 lead in the third set as Raonic suffered a sudden loss of momentum, backing it up with a service game to love. His seventh ace of the contest sealed the set in the 10th game.

With his coach John McEnroe commentating for British television, Raonic had to save two break points in the fifth game and another in the ninth of the fourth set.

However, in a remarkable 12th game, Federer was pegged back from 40-0 after serving up back-to-back double faults and Raonic levelled the semi-final on a third set point when the Swiss meekly teed-up an opportunity for the Canadian to pass him. Federer then required treatment on his right thigh in the changeover.

The fatigued legend saved a break point at 1-2 in the decider but only after jarring his left foot and knee in an awkward fall.

A breathtaking close-up rally at the net went in the Canadian’s favour and he broke for 3-1 in what proved to be the crucial breakthrough. AFP

The world number one tried “a spoonful” of food meant for her dog Chip before beating fellow American Christina McHale in straight sets in Rome.

“I thought ‘what the heck, I’m gonna try a piece, it looks good’,” said the 34-year-old.

“Fast forward two hours – I just ran to the toilet like I thought I was going to pass out.”

In a video posted on Snapchat before her match with McHale, Williams explained she sampled a dish of chicken and rice offered on a ‘doggy menu’ at her hotel.

“It did taste weird,” she said. “I force-swallowed it. It tasted kind of like house cleaner. I don’t know what they put in these dog foods, but Chip liked it.

“I don’t think it’s consumable for humans – they should have wrote that! So now I feel really sick. It was just a spoonful but I don’t feel so good.”

Williams recovered in time to defeat McHale 7-6 (9-7) 6-1 and set up a meeting with Svetlana Kuznetsova – who beat fellow Russian Daria Gavrilova – in the last eight.

Nuwantha will take on top seed Avindra Perera in today’s quarters. Avindra had a cakewalk to the quarters following a bye and a walkover in the first and second rounds respectively.

Sixth seed Vikum Jayasuriya has also entered the U-18 boys’ singles quarters beating Ravindu Weerasinghe 6/4, 6/4 in the second round. Vikum will meet fourth seed Vibuda Wijebandara in the quarters.Vibuda Wijebandara, Manal Algama will battle with Thevinda Piyadigama in the third quarterfinal while Sean Sanderson will meet either third seed Udayachandran Srinath or Vhimalshanth Chandramohan in the remaining quarterfinal today.

Third seed Medhira Samarasinghe entered girls’ U-18 singles semi-finals when she beat Pamoda Jayasekera in straight sets (6/0, 6/0). Medhira will fight it out with top seed Janali Manamperi in today’s semi finals. The other U-18 singles semi-finalist Tarah Greig will have to wait for the outcome of today’s quarterfinal between second seed Anika Seneviratne and Sethara Ambawatte to meet her semi-final opponent. The tournament will continue today for the third day.

Results of the day:

Boys’ U-18 singles (2nd round):

Nuwantha Dissanayake beat Inthujan Selvaratnaraja – 6/2, 7/5

Vikum Jayasuriya beat Ravindu Weerasinghe – 6/4, 6/4

Girls’ U-18 singles (Quarters):

Medhira Samarasinghe beat Pamoda Jayasekera – 6/0, 6/0

Girls’ U-16 singles (1st round):

Sethara Ambawatte beat Oshini Herath – 4/6, 6/1, 6/2

Boys’ U-16 singles (1st round):

Mark Seneviratne beat Kavish Ratnayaka – 7/5, 6/4

Boys’ U-12 singles (1st round):

Nelaka Dissanayake beat Kavindu Perera – 6/0, 6/0

Boys’ U-14 singles:

Shehan Perera beat Akith Senaratne – 6/4, 6/4 (2nd round)

Vinuja Vijebandara beat Talal Sabry – 6/1, 6/0 (1st round)

Serena, the world’s top women’s tennis player, was named Laureus World Sportswoman of the Year again, after a sparkling 2015 in which she won three Grand Slams.

Laureus Academy Member Boris Becker, now Djokovic’s coach, said: “He had a great year again. He’s played 88 matches, has won 82, He won three out of the four Grand Slams, reached the final of the French Open, he’s won seven other tournaments. Very few players, if any, had a year like that.”

There was a special posthumous Laureus Spirit of Sport Award to celebrate the life of Johan Cruyff, who died in March. It was received by his son Jordi Cruyff.

On a glittering evening in Berlin that recognised the outstanding sporting achievements of 2015, rugby was the other big winner with the All Blacks taking the Laureus Team Award and Dan Carter receiving the Laureus Comeback of the Year Award, following the team’s Rugby World Cup success.

Carter said: “It’s nice to be recognised for the year I had in 2015. It was a very special year, not only for me, but also for the All Blacks and to be a part of that was amazing.”

To the delight of the Berlin audience, Germany’s Jan Frodeno, the first man to win both the Ironman World Championship and an Olympic triathlon gold medal, was presented with the Laureus Action Sports Award, while golfer Jordan Spieth won the Laureus Breakthrough of the Year Award. Spieth said: “Thank you so much to the Laureus Academy. Just to know a couple of you is an honour. For me it’s unique. We’re used to being recognised in the golfing community but this Award recognises us around the world to all of sport and it’s something that’s very difficult to put into words.” Brazilian Paralympic swimmer Daniel Dias won his third Laureus Disability Award, another record. Dias, who is one of Brazil’s big hopes for gold medals the Paralympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in September, said: “This is another great honour for me and gives me great encouragement, as we are now in the build-up to the Paralympic Games in Rio. To think I have won win three Laureus Awards, something only managed by other sportsmen like Roger Federer, Usain Bolt and Kelly Slater, is quite overwhelming.”

Three-time Formula One world champion Niki Lauda, now Non-Executive Chairman of the Mercedes AMG Petronas team, received the Laureus Lifetime Achievement Award.