Sharapova advances to Australian Open semifinals

By Mallory Gnaegy
| 5:00 a.m. January 25, 2012

Maria Sharapova would reclaim the No. 1 world ranking if she wins the Australian Open.

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Local favorite and former Wimbledon winner Maria Sharapova beat Ekaterina Makarova 6-2, 6-3 last night in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open.

Reigning Wimbledon champ Petra Kvitova also won her quarterfinal match in straight sets Wednesday. Sharapova and Kvitova will face off tonight in the Australian Open semifinals.

The match is set for 9:30 p.m. and can be seen on ESPN2.

Kvitova beat Sharapova in the Wimbledon final last year. If Sharapova wins the Australian Open, she will be ranked No. 1 in the world — a ranking she last held in 2008.

Contact Mallory Gnaegy at [email protected].