MELBOURNE, Australia -- Serena Williams' confidence is increasing with each victory at the Australian Open.

	Kim Clijsters, left, topped Anastasia Myskina 6-2, 6-4.

"This day is the first day that I'm actually feeling like Serena Williams,'' she said Wednesday after moving within two wins of completing her "Serena Slam.''

Williams beat Meghann Shaughnessy 6-2, 6-2 to advance to the semifinals at Melbourne Park for the first time.

She gave her fellow American just one break-point chance, in the second set, and limited her unforced errors to five in the first set. Since overcoming Emilie Loit in a tight three-setter, Williams has lost 15 games in her last four matches.

That's bad news for Kim Clijsters, who will face Williams in the semis. Clijsters is also the last -- and only the fifth -- woman to beat the top-ranked Williams last year.

Clijsters advanced to her second consecutive Australian Open semifinal with a 6-2, 6-4 win over eighth-seeded Anastasia Myskina of Russia.

The 19-year-old Belgian, who beat Venus and Serena Williams to win the season-ending WTA Championships in Los Angeles last November, has lost just 16 games in 10 sets.

Serena Williams fired eight aces at up to 121 mph against Shaughnessy, not quite matching sister Venus' 125 mph serves 24 hours earlier. Venus meets Justine Henin-Hardenne on Thursday in another U.S. vs. Belgium women's semifinal.

"I tried to get one today, but mine went past the baseline,'' Serena said of a 200-plus mph serve. "I get more excited about it than she does. I'm just trying to catch up.''

The Williams sisters have four Grand Slam titles apiece with Serena winning the last three -- all at the expense of Venus in the championship matches.

"I'm definitely thrilled to get to the semifinal. It's my first in Australia, so I'm definitely ahead of my history,'' said Serena, who missed the last Australian Open with an ankle injury.

"I'm just trying to keep up with everyone else,'' she said. "I'm tired of answering these questions: 'What does it take to beat the Williams sisters?'''

Cljisters has won three consecutive titles without dropping a set and her win over Myskina was her 24th in 25 matches, and 17th in succession.

The 2001 French Open runner-up lost her serve twice in the second set but broke the 21-year-old Russian six times in all and had 27 winners.

"I think right now Kim is the best player in the world,'' Myskina said. "I think she feels like she's playing at home here.''

Clijsters didn't entirely agree.

"I still think Serena and Venus are the toughest girls to play,'' she said. "Whenever you get into big tournaments and big matches, they can play even better than what they have been in that same tournament.

"I think that makes them real champions because they play even better when they have to.''