Venus Williams beats Pavlyuchenkova to make semi-finals

Williams took one hour and 47 minutes to reach a first semi-final at the Australian Open since 2003 but it was not all plain sailing for the 36-year-old.

She was broken four times – twice in each set – but Pavlyuchenkova failed to consolidate any of those breaks, and that inability ultimately cost the world number 27.

"It was such a hard fought match. She didn't let up. We have always had quality matches and today was exactly the same," the American said after.

"I don't want to finish it there though I want to go further.

"It wasn't an easy start to the year for me, I had to withdraw from the first tournament so there was a lot of anxiety coming in here. I'm just so excited that I have an opportunity to play again. That's all I'm focussed on."

Williams was just 22 when she last made the semi-finals at Melbourne, during a run to the 2003 final where she was beaten by younger sister Serena, the current world number two, in three sets.

Seven-time Grand Slam winner Williams will now face Coco Vandeweghe for a spot in the final - should Venus make the final, there is still a chance she could meet second seed and younger sister Serena there.

"To me, the semi-finals is a stepping stone, just like the other rounds," she said.

"It's an opportunity to advance. The tournament is by no means over. It's definitely down to the business end.

"I feel like I'm playing the kind of tennis I want to produce the results that I want."

A title tilt against her sister Serena is still on the cards if she gets past Vandeweghe but for all her patriotism and sisterly love, Venus is thinking only of herself.

"Should I look across the net and believe the person across the net deserves it more?" she asked. "This mentality is not how champions are made. I'd like to be a champion, in particular this year.

"The mentality I walk on court with is: I deserve this."