Sharapova wary of Lisicki serve threat

Maria Sharapova is preparing to fight fire with fire today as she attempts to combat the raw power of German wildcard Sabine Lisicki in a semi-final battle of the big-hitters.

Sharapova has been installed as the bookmakers favourite to win her second Wimbledon title after an impressive march to the last four where she has not yet dropped a set in five matches.

The 2004 champion was in scintillating form in the quarter-finals, where her booming groundstrokes reduced Dominika Cibulkova to rubble in a 6-1, 6-1 on Centre Court.

But Sharapova faces potentially the most challenging opponent left in the women’s tournament in the shape of Lisicki, the 21-year-old who has regularly been clocking serves at around 120 miles per hour.

“A player with so much confidence is always very dangerous,” Sharapova said, agreeing with a suggestion that the semi-final could be decided by power rather than finesse.

“I’m sure it will be powerful. She hits very hard. She has probably one of the hardest serves on the tour.”

Lisicki is unburdened by expectation.

“Maria’s a great champion and she has been playing really well re-cently,” Lisicki said.

“But I have absolutely nothing to lose.”

The other side of the women’s draw sees Czech eighth seed Petra Kvitova face fourth seed Victoria Azarenka of Belarus, in a repeat of last year’s third round meeting won by Kvitova 7-5, 6-0.