The 17-year-old Russian blinked back tears of disbelief after coming through a difficult quarter-final against Japan's Ai Sugiyama 5-7 7-5 6-1 on Centre Court.

Sharapova wiped her eyes and immediately vowed to give American Lindsay Davenport the fight of her life in the semi-finals.

"I'm going to give it all. I want to win this tournament and I want it very bad," she said.

"When you have a big passion for something and you want to achieve something you give it your all."

"I just couldn't believe it at all. These things don't happen every day. I never thought I could turn it around. The first two sets she got back some amazing balls ... she played amazing. Ball after ball after ball was so deep.

"It seemed easy, the third set, but it really wasn't. I just got used to her game because I hadn't played her before."

In reaching the last four at the All England Club, Sharapova has now matched the 1997 performance of compatriot Anna Kournikova, to whom she is often compared thanks to her blonde locks and model's looks.

Unlike Kournikova, who is in semi-retirement, Sharapova has won three tour titles already and she is not surprised by her progress.

DAVENPORT NEXT

The Russian did, after all, reach the Wimbledon fourth round last year and also won the Edgbaston warm-up event this year.

"I haven't surprised myself because I've been playing very well on grass and feeling good," she said. "This is one of my favourite surfaces and one of the surfaces when my game comes together.

In 1999 champion Davenport, Sharapova knows she will face player with similar strengths to her own -- namely a big serve and immense backcourt power. Willpower could be all that splits them.

"We both hit a pretty powerful ball and we both have a great serve," Sharapova said. "She is a great champion. She has won this tournament and I want to win this tournament so it's going to be interesting."