(CNN) -- Serena Williams is through to her ninth Miami Masters final after beating Maria Sharapova at Crandon Park on Thursday. Defending champion Williams trailed early on in the match before powering her way past her Russian opponent in straight sets 6-4 6-3. Sharapova had worked an early lead, breaking in the fourth game of the opening set and led 4-1 at one stage. But her advantage was short-lived as Williams reeled off five games in a row to close out the set. The fourth seed broke Williams again in the second game of the second set to steal an early advantage, but any momentum gained was immediately lost as the world No. 1 broke back in the very next game.
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Serena Williams advances to Miami Masters final with straight sets semifinal win
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Defending champion beats Maria Sharapova for 15th time in a row
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American will next face Australian Open champion Li Na
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Men's No. 1 Rafael Nadal sets up semifinal clash with Tomas Berdych
Further breaks in the seventh and finally the ninth game sealed @placeholder's fate, dashing hopes that she could break her duck in a tournament where she has finished runner-up on five occasions.