Melbourne: Maria Sharapova has revealed how avoiding another ticking-off from her father was behind her impressive run to the semi-finals of the Australian Open.


Maria Sharapova celebrates her win over Eugenie Bouchard yesterday. Inset: Sharapova's father, Yuri. Pics/AFP, Getty Images  

Since saving two match points against Alexandra Panova in the second round, Sharapova has lost just 10 games in reaching the Last Four, where she will face Ekaterina Makarova after the pair enjoyed one-sided quarter-final victories yesterday.