Sharapova delighted with Henin demolition

MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Maria Sharapova said she had produced one of the most consistent performances of her career to crush world number one Justine Henin 6-4 6-0 in the Australian Open quarter-finals on Tuesday.

The Russian fifth seed simply overwhelmed the top-seeded Belgian, ending her 32-match winning streak in emphatic style.

"I think it was one of the most consistent matches where I did all the things I wanted to do and I did them correctly from the beginning to the end except having a little letdown in the end of that first set," Sharapova told reporters.

"I felt like I did many things right, and I just played the way I can play." The former Wimbledon and U.S. Open champion said her positive approach had been important.

"I had to be aggressive," she said. " When I'm playing well, that's what I do. I'm not a passive player. I want to be the one that's forcing their errors. I did a really good job of that today."

Sharapova, runner-up at Melbourne Park last year, had a feeling it was going to be her night.

"The stars were shining, it was just meant to be," she said. "I was trying to put pressure on her. I did many things well, and sometimes when you do those things they just don't work.

The 20-year-old Sharapova, who won Wimbledon as a 17-year-old in 2004, is relishing her semi-final against third seed Jelena Jankovic, a player she has known well from junior days and has beaten three times in four meetings.

"Previous matches don't count," she said. "This is a great opportunity for both of us. Ever since the juniors we've always played really tough and we've always battled it out and it's great to see her in the semis."

(Editing by Pritha Sarkar)