Miami Premier 2013: Serena Williams to face Maria Sharapova

Serena Williams stormed into her eighth Sony Open final with a 6-0 6-3 win over defending champion Agnieszka Radwanska to set up a showdown with Maria Sharapova.

Top seed Williams hit a staggering 40 winners as she blasted past her Polish opponent to set up a meeting with world No2 Sharapova in Saturday’s final.

“It definitely felt really good today. I kept my unforced errors rather low,” said Williams.

“I have been practicing really hard. Hopefully it’s just all paying off. So I don’t know if it’s luck. I don’t believe in luck. I believe in hard work.”

And six-time champion Williams insists that she is looking forward to taking on the 25-year-old Russian, who has never won the Miami tournament.

“I love playing her,” she continued. 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. Maybe that’s it. I just want to play well against a great player. I don’t know.

“She’s been playing awesome. I definitely expect a tough match. She’s a great player. What else can you expect? She hasn’t lost in a long time so I have to be ready.

“One thing about her [is that] she constantly improves. I actually learn a lot from her and from that. Hopefully I can be able to do the same.”