Trailing 1-4 at the outset of today's Sony Open semifinal, Williams showed respect for Sharapova`s passing shot by giving her rival a hand.
The world No. 1 spent the rest of the match throwing down the hammer.
Finding the range on her imposing serve, Williams reeled off five straight games to spark a 6-4, 6-3 victory and roll into the Miami final for the ninth time. It was Williams' 15th consecutive victory over the woman she's treated as her personal punching bag for almost a decade, and her 14th straight win against a Top 10 opponent.
