Maria Sharapova is successfully through to the last four at the Australian Open after beating compatriot Ekaterina Makarova in an all-Russian quarter-final.

Throughout the entire match the World number four dominated her unseeded opponent, who, remember, knocked out Serena Williams and Vera Zvonareva in the previous rounds.

Sharapova eventually claimed a confident straight sets victory – 6-2, 6-3.

Up next for the Russian is Petra Kvitova. The World number two earned her place in the last four in the early match of the day at the expense of Italian Sara Errani.

The Czech also won in two sets, but spent almost two hours on court to claim a 6-4, 6-4 win.

Sharapova against Kvitova is a repetition of last year's Wimbledon final, where the Czech came out the winner.

In the men's game – Andy Murray is through to the last four after a confident victory over Kei Nishikori of Japan. 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 – that is how it finished, as the Brit awaits top seed Novak Djokovic, who dismanted David Ferrer 6-4, 7-6, 6-1 in the other quarterfinal.