Sharapova defeated Cibulkova in their quarter-final on Tuesday for the loss of just two games, 6-1 6-1.

Slovakian Cibulkova, who had defeated top-seed Caroline Wozniacki in the fourth round found Sharapova an altogether different opponent and could not force her game or dictate the points the way she had been able to against Wozniacki.

Sharapova dominated from the start and with some powerful accurate hitting, took the first set 6-1 after just 27 minutes of play.

Cibulkova made life a little harder for fifth-seeded Sharapova in the second set but at crucial points in many of the games Sharapova was able to come up with the shots needed.

"It's a few years since I got past the fourth round here, so it is nice to be in the semi-finals with a great chance to take it further." said Sharapova after the match.

German wildcard Sabine Lisicki will be Maria's semi-final opponent after she won her quarter-final with a tough three-set victory over Serena Williams’ conqueror, Marion Bartoli of France, 6-4 6-7 (4-7) 6-1.

Their quarter-final on Tuesday saw some powerful hitting from both players. Bartoli picked up where she left off with Serena and battled hard but found Lisicki a little more consistent when it mattered.

The German won the first set 6-4 after 43 minutes with a perfectly hit backhand down the line. Lisicki continued to hit powerful serves in the second and managed to put herself in a winning position at 5-4 and found herself with match points.

At this point though Lisicki's serve deserted her and after a few nervy shots Bartoli was back in the set at 5-5. Ninth-seeded Bartoli then raced on and took the tie-break to force a decider.

The efforts of Bartoli's previous matches appeared to take their toll dramatically in the third. Lisicki upped her game and Bartoli was a step slower and could not keep up.

Lisicki powered through the third set and on to victory.

"I'm speechless, I cannot believe it yet," said Lisicki after the match. "I was very disappointed with myself at 5-4 in the second set when I missed easily - I should have just gone for it.

"But I felt I was the better player today and knew I had to focus and fight again in the third set to win it."

In Tuesday's other quarter-finals Victoria Azarenka defeated the promising Austrian player Tamira Paszek in a late match under the roof on Centre Court.

Azarenka outclassed Paszek and won comfortably 6-3 6-1.

She will face Czech eighth-seed Petra Kvitova in today's other semi-final after Kvitova defeated Tsvetana Pironkova 6-3 6-7 (5-7) 6-2 to reach her second Wimbledon semi-final.

"Kvitova is a great player," said Azarenka. "Grass obviously suits her really well as she has a huge serve. I must play my best tennis, stay focused and try my hardest."