By Steve Keating
MIAMI Tue Mar 25, 2014 10:38pm EDT
<span id="articleText"><span id="midArticle_start"/> MIAMI (Reuters) - Defending champion Serena Williams closed in on a seventh Sony Open title with a 6-2 6-2 quarter-final demolition of German Angelique Kerber on Tuesday, a win that came as the Crandon Park tennis facility was locked down due to a bomb scare.
<span id="midArticle_1"/>Williams' win sets up a semi-final rematch of last year's final against Maria Sharapova, a five-time runner-up on the Miami hardcourts, who advanced with an equally impressive 7-5 6-1 win over eighth-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova.
<span id="midArticle_2"/>While Williams was shutting down fifth seed Kerber, Miami Dade police were locking down the sprawling tennis complex after a suspicious package was found at the main entrance.
<span id="midArticle_3"/>Four lane traffic was halted in both directions in front of the complex while spectators were prevented from entering or leaving the facility.
<span id="midArticle_4"/>"Yeah, there was a bomb threat and a lockdown but that's all I know about it. Scary," said Williams.
<span id="midArticle_5"/>Sharapova and Williams, who have both achieved a career grand slam and held the number one ranking, were expected to develop into one of the great rivalries in women's tennis.
<span id="midArticle_6"/>But it has not quite worked out that way with Williams dominating the series, winning 15-of-17 career meetings including the last 14.
<span id="midArticle_7"/>The pair have clashed three times in Miami, Williams winning all three.
<span id="midArticle_8"/>"It's no secret that she's been a big challenge of mine, an opponent that obviously I would love to beat," said Sharapova, who has not beaten Williams in almost a decade.
<span id="midArticle_9"/>"There are certainly ways that I need to step up in certain situations that I haven't been able to do in the past against her.
<span id="midArticle_10"/>"But it's great that I have come to that stage and have the opportunity to play her again."
<span id="midArticle_11"/>Certainly Sharapova will have to be at her best as Williams' title defense has picked up steam with each match.
<span id="midArticle_12"/>The world number one needed just 62 minutes to dispose of Kerber and has dropped one set on route to the final four.
<span id="midArticle_13"/>"When you're playing champions, you have to play your best," said Williams, looking ahead to her meeting with Sharapova. "She always plays her best and her heart out against me.
<span id="midArticle_14"/>"We just have to bring the best because we both are really good players. We just both do the best we can when we try to play each other.
<span id="midArticle_15"/>"I love playing her. I really do."
<span id="midArticle_0"/>Sharapova, who has come up short in the Miami final each of the last three years, dropped her opening serve to Kvitova but that would be the only time in the entire match.
<span id="midArticle_1"/>The fourth-seeded Russian took control with a break to get back on level terms at 4-4 and then again to close out the first set. Sharapova then dominated the second set, storming through the first five games before a reeling Kvitova held her serve.
<span id="midArticle_2"/>"I didn't have a good first few games, so I was happy that I was steady, that I kept trying to do the right thing, kept trying to be aggressive," said Sharapova. "I think that paid off as the match went on because I made a few too many unforced errors in the beginning."
<span id="midArticle_3"/>(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
<span id="midArticle_4"/>
MIAMI Tue Mar 25, 2014 10:38pm EDT
<span id="articleText"><span id="midArticle_start"/> MIAMI (Reuters) - Defending champion Serena Williams closed in on a seventh Sony Open title with a 6-2 6-2 quarter-final demolition of German Angelique Kerber on Tuesday, a win that came as the Crandon Park tennis facility was locked down due to a bomb scare.
<span id="midArticle_1"/>Williams' win sets up a semi-final rematch of last year's final against Maria Sharapova, a five-time runner-up on the Miami hardcourts, who advanced with an equally impressive 7-5 6-1 win over eighth-seeded Czech Petra Kvitova.
<span id="midArticle_2"/>While Williams was shutting down fifth seed Kerber, Miami Dade police were locking down the sprawling tennis complex after a suspicious package was found at the main entrance.
<span id="midArticle_3"/>Four lane traffic was halted in both directions in front of the complex while spectators were prevented from entering or leaving the facility.
<span id="midArticle_4"/>"Yeah, there was a bomb threat and a lockdown but that's all I know about it. Scary," said Williams.
<span id="midArticle_5"/>Sharapova and Williams, who have both achieved a career grand slam and held the number one ranking, were expected to develop into one of the great rivalries in women's tennis.
<span id="midArticle_6"/>But it has not quite worked out that way with Williams dominating the series, winning 15-of-17 career meetings including the last 14.
<span id="midArticle_7"/>The pair have clashed three times in Miami, Williams winning all three.
<span id="midArticle_8"/>"It's no secret that she's been a big challenge of mine, an opponent that obviously I would love to beat," said Sharapova, who has not beaten Williams in almost a decade.
<span id="midArticle_9"/>"There are certainly ways that I need to step up in certain situations that I haven't been able to do in the past against her.
<span id="midArticle_10"/>"But it's great that I have come to that stage and have the opportunity to play her again."
<span id="midArticle_11"/>Certainly Sharapova will have to be at her best as Williams' title defense has picked up steam with each match.
<span id="midArticle_12"/>The world number one needed just 62 minutes to dispose of Kerber and has dropped one set on route to the final four.
<span id="midArticle_13"/>"When you're playing champions, you have to play your best," said Williams, looking ahead to her meeting with Sharapova. "She always plays her best and her heart out against me.
<span id="midArticle_14"/>"We just have to bring the best because we both are really good players. We just both do the best we can when we try to play each other.
<span id="midArticle_15"/>"I love playing her. I really do."
<span id="midArticle_0"/>Sharapova, who has come up short in the Miami final each of the last three years, dropped her opening serve to Kvitova but that would be the only time in the entire match.
<span id="midArticle_1"/>The fourth-seeded Russian took control with a break to get back on level terms at 4-4 and then again to close out the first set. Sharapova then dominated the second set, storming through the first five games before a reeling Kvitova held her serve.
<span id="midArticle_2"/>"I didn't have a good first few games, so I was happy that I was steady, that I kept trying to do the right thing, kept trying to be aggressive," said Sharapova. "I think that paid off as the match went on because I made a few too many unforced errors in the beginning."
<span id="midArticle_3"/>(Editing by Peter Rutherford)
<span id="midArticle_4"/>
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