MELBOURNE, Jan 22 (Reuters) – Winning Asia’s first grand slam singles title became a burden that sapped the confidence out of Li Na, but the 30-year-old Chinese felt it come flooding back in reaching her third Australian Open semi-final on Tuesday.

The 2011 French Open champion overcame a bout of wayward serving to grind down fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska 7-5 6-3 on a sun-drenched centre court, and will play either Maria Sharapova or Ekaterina Makarova for a place in the final.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Serena Williams trounced Maria Kirilenko at the Australian Open on Monday, setting up an all-American quarter-final with her would-be successor Sloane Stephens after Andy Murray had put flagging Frenchman Gilles Simon out of his misery.

The 31-year-old Williams needed less than an hour to advance under lights at Rod Laver Arena with a 6-2 6-0 victory, and will meet another woman in a hurry in teenager Stephens.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Sloane Stephens bolstered her claim as an eventual successor to Serena Williams by battling through to the Australian Open quarter-finals on Monday, as defending champion Victoria Azarenka advanced with a ruthless return to form.

The Gallic juggernaut rolled on at Melbourne Park with Jeremy Chardy’s fairytale run continuing and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga overhauling compatriot Richard Gasquet to ensure at least two Frenchmen in the last eight.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Victoria Azarenka returned to her merciless best with a crushing win over Russian Elena Vesnina to make the Australian Open quarter-finals on Monday, as the Gallic juggernaut rolled on with two Frenchmen assured of making the last eight at Melbourne Park.

The world number one Azarenka was the first player in the women’s top four seeds to drop a set in her tough third-round match against American Jamie Hampton, and set herself the goal of improving “everything” against the 47th-ranked Vesnina.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Victoria Azarenka returned to her merciless best with a crushing win over Russian Elena Vesnina to make the Australian Open quarter-finals on Monday, as the Gallic juggernaut rolled on with two Frenchmen assured of making the last eight at Melbourne Park.

The world number one Azarenka was the first player in the women’s top four seeds to drop a set in her tough third-round match against American Jamie Hampton, and set herself the goal of improving “everything” against the 47th-ranked Vesnina.

MELBOURNE, Jan 21 (Reuters) – Victoria Azarenka returned to her merciless best with a crushing win over Russian Elena Vesnina to make the Australian Open quarter-finals on Monday, as the Gallic juggernaut rolled on with two Frenchmen assured of making the last eight at Melbourne Park.

The world number one Azarenka was the first player in the women’s top four seeds to drop a set in her tough third-round match against American Jamie Hampton, and set herself the goal of improving “everything” against the 47th-ranked Vesnina.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Silencing the voices of doubt that plague Li Na’s mind has been mission impossible at times for coaches and her stoic husband Jiang Shan, but the 30-year-old Chinese appears to have finally found harmony on and off the court.

The world number six will play Agnieszka Radwanska for a place in the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday, and is relishing being back in the big-time after a year-and-a-half in the grand slam wilderness.

MELBOURNE, Jan 21 (Reuters) – Silencing the voices of doubt that plague Li Na’s mind has been mission impossible at times for coaches and her stoic husband Jiang Shan, but the 30-year-old Chinese appears to have finally found harmony on and off the court.

The world number six will play Agnieszka Radwanska for a place in the Australian Open semi-finals on Tuesday, and is relishing being back in the big-time after a year-and-a-half in the grand slam wilderness.

MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Agnieszka Radwanska continued her perfect start to the year with a clinical demolition of Ana Ivanovic to set up a rematch with Li Na in the quarter-finals after beating the Chinese in Sydney 10 days ago.

Four of the top 10 women have already packed their bags at Melbourne Park while fourth seed Radwanska has not dropped a set in her 13 straight victories this year.

MELBOURNE, Jan 20 (Reuters) – Agnieszka Radwanska continued her perfect start to the year with a clinical demolition of Ana Ivanovic to set up a rematch with Li Na in the quarter-finals after beating the Chinese in Sydney 10 days ago.

Four of the top 10 women have already packed their bags at Melbourne Park while fourth seed Radwanska has not dropped a set in her 13 straight victories this year.