Sydney, Jan 22 : Russian tennis ace Maria Sharapova, who set a new Australian Open record for the least number of games lost in the first four rounds of the tournament, will face China's Li Na in the women semi-finals.

Sharapova beat compatriot Ekaterina Makarova in the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park for the second straight year - 6-2 6-2 in 66 minutes.

Sharapova also set a new Open record for the least number of games lost in the first four rounds of the championship i. e. five. With her victory on Tuesday, Sharapova set a new mark.

Having conceded a total of just nine games in five matches, it beats the previous record of 12 set by Monica Seles in 1991. Meanwhile, Li on Tuesday ruined the winning streak of Poland''s Agnieszka Radwanska to reach the last four when she won 7-5 6-3, the Age reports.

Radwanska went into the clash on the back of a run of 13 consecutive match wins, taking out titles in Auckland and Sydney, where Li lost to the Polish player. (ANI)