Former champion Angelique Kerber signalled her intent to wrest back the Australian Open title as she brutally crushed US Open finalist Madison Keys on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals.
The 2016 winner, seeded 21, brushed aside the American 17th seed 6-1, 6-2, breaking her much-vaunted serve at will as she triumphed in 51 one-sided minutes on Rod laver Arena.
"It's always tough to play against Madison," said Kerber. "She is hitting the ball so hard and I was just trying from the beginning, like I played the whole week, just to play my game. I love playing in Australia and on Rod laver Arena. I have so many good memories here."
The match was billed as a classic contrast of styles, the big-serving power game of Keys versus the scurrying, chase- everything-down, all-action approach of Kerber.
For Keys so much depends on the serve, which is a formidable weapon.
But on Wednesday Kerber negated it from the off, winning 57 per cent of points on Keys' first serve.
And, without aa plan B, Keys was broken four times in an error-riddled five games as the German raced to the first set 6-1 in 22 minutes and went 3-1 up in the second.
Halep's straight set win
The women's semifinals were determined earlier Wednesday, when top-ranked Simona Halep recovered from an early break to win nine straight games in a 6-3, 6-2 win over No 6 Karolina Pliskova in the other semifinal match, No 2 Caroline Wozniacki will play 22-year-old Elise Mertens.
Halep, a two-time French Open finalist, has had a tough road - having to save match points in a third-round win over lauren Davis that finished 15-13 in the third - to reach the semifinals at Melbourne Park for the first time.