Sharapova wary of big-hitting Lisicki

The 24-year-old won the last of her three slam titles at the Australian Open in 2008 having lifted the Wimbledon trophy in 2004 at the age of only 17.

Were Sharapova to repeat that this year aged 24, and she is the clear favourite to do so, she would be the youngest winner since that momentous victory over Serena Williams seven years ago, but the best of the new generation are snapping at her heels.

In the last four today, the Russian will face 21-year-old Sabine Lisicki, while the other clash pits Victoria Azarenka against Petra Kvitova – both of whom are also 21.

Having been the youngest semi-finalist at the French Open, where the final was between Francesca Schiavone, then 30, and 29-year-old Li Na, Sharapova now finds herself as the senior figure – not that she sees it that way.

She said: “I think a few years don’t really make that much of a difference. I had my success really early in my career, and I don’t regret it for one second.

“I think maybe if I achieved big things when I was a little bit older, not 17, maybe I wouldn’t be seen as more of a veteran. I’d still be considered young.

“But I don’t regret for a second that I had a lot of success when I was young, because I feel like I got to learn so much more than players at my age.”

Lisicki is the player who has made the most headlines with her run through the draw. The German was a quarter-finalist two years ago and on the verge of the top 20 before an ankle injury ruled her out for five months.

Lisicki is renowned for her serve, which regularly clocks more than 120mph, and Sharapova knows she is a threat.

The fifth seed said: “A player that’s playing with so much confidence and really great grass-court tennis is always very dangerous.

“She hits very hard. She has probably one of the hardest serves on the tour, and that’s very beneficial.”

Resurgent Azarenka thanks her family for tough pep talk

Victoria Azarenka will play her first grand slam semi-final against Petra Kvitova at Wimbledon today knowing that, had it not been for a frank discussion with her family in March, she may never have showcased her talents on court again.

Azarenka has looked in sublime form throughout her time at SW19 this summer, but just three months ago, however, the world No 5 seemed destined to join the long line of promising eastern Europeans who failed to make the grade.

The 21-year-old from Belarus lost four grand slam quarter-finals in the space of two years and her frustration finally came to the fore in March when, after crashing out in the first round of an event in Doha, Qatar, she considered quitting the game.

Only a frank discussion with her mother and grandmother stopped her from throwing in the towel. “My grandmother said I had to just shut up and stop complaining because I had a pretty damn good life,” Azarenka said.