The Russian came out flying to break in the second game and though Henin pulled it back in game nine, a fantastic cross-court backhand won her the set.

Sharapova then waltzed through the second with a succession of winners to end Henin's 32-match winning run.

The fifth seed will now take on Jelena Jankovic in the last four on Thursday.

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It is the fourth year running she has reached that stage and few will back against her going all the way after a quite awesome performance which left her Belgian opponent in a daze.

Right from the start she thundered powerful groundstrokes to the corners, leaving Henin struggling to stay in rallies.

The 25-year-old top seed has not been at her best in Melbourne and that lack of fluency was ruthlessly exposed.

Sharapova, 20, had lost six of their eight previous meetings but a seventh never looked likely as she smashed 30 winners to take the opening set.

It was one-way traffic in the second, with Henin suffering her first 6-0 rout since 2002 and first defeat since Wimbledon.

"I really felt like I was in my own bubble," said Sharapova, who lost in last year's final to Serena Williams.

"I wasn't trying to pay attention to her record or how many tournaments she won, which is an increbible number."

Sharapova now takes on a familiar face in Jankovic, 22, who stunned Williams on Tuesday.

"We kind of grew up together, practicing at the same academy," Sharapova said.

"It's a bit strange. We were always doing the same thing, playing the same groups. It was both of our dreams playing in a Grand Slam, especially playing each other."

(BBC)

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