Maria Sharapova will face Serena Williams in the final of the Sony Open while Britain’s Andy Murray will take on France’s Richard Gasquet in the men’s semi-finals after grinding down Croatian Marin Cilic.

World number one Williams needed just 65 minutes to deal with fourth seeded defending champion Agnieska Radwanska 6-0 6-3, while Sharapova, who won at Indian Wells earlier this month, demolished Serbia’s Jelena Jan-kovic 6-2 6-1.

Sharapova, extended her winning streak to 11 matches with a lopsided win in just over an hour against Jankovic, a former world number one struggling to regain her best.

Despite Sharapova’s good form, Williams will start as clear favourite in today’s final – she is 11-2 in meetings with the Russian and has won the last 10 matches between the pair.

Williams, seeking a record sixth Miami title, is relishing the chance of taking on the woman directly below her in the world tennis rankings.

“I love playing her. I love seeing her on the opposite side because she just brings out a good game. I just like the challenge of playing someone who has made history and who is doing so well,” the American told reporters.

“She’s been playing awesome. I definitely expect a tough match.”

One of just 10 women to have won all four grand slams, Sharapova has been collecting titles all over the world but has never won the Sony Open, played in her “home” state of Florida, despite reaching four previous finals.

“It would mean so much to me,” she said.

In the men’s draw, second seed Murray twice fought back from a break down in the first set and then grafted his way through the second to overcome the tall Cilic 6-4 6-3.

“It was a tough, tough match. Second set especially was a lot of long, long games and tough points,” Murray said.

Men’s semi-final: Ferrer bt Haas 4-6 6-2 6-3.