• Australian Open

Djokovic cruises to set up Wawrinka rematch

Like Novak Djokovic's previous four opponents, Milos Raonic provided little in the way of a test as the world No.1 cruised into the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

Djokovic overcame early stubbornness from his Canadian opponent to breeze to a 7-6(5) 6-4 6-2 victory on Rod Laver Arena.

Raonic failed to even earn a break point, meaning Djokovic has now gone 52 service games without being broken, winning 70 out of 71 overall in Melbourne this year.

More sobering news for Raonic, though. In his last 10 matches against top-10 opposition, he has broken serve in just six games.

Milos Raonic continued his poor form against top-10 opposition © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Keys has Serena Williams in her sights after Venus victory
  
• News: Murray more worried by Berdych than 'up and down' Nadal
  
• News: Sharapova ousts Bouchard to set up Makarova semi-final
  

Djokovic will face Stan Wawrinka in the last four on Friday, after the defending champion beat Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-4 7-6(6) earlier in the day.

Wawrinka avenged a defeat to the Japanese star in the quarter-finals of last year's US Open, but he let slip a 6-1 lead in the third-set tie-break and eventually needed six match points to close it out.

Wawrinka beat Djokovic in a five-set thriller at last year's Australian Open before going on to win his maiden grand slam title. It will also be the third year in a row he and Wawrinka have faced each other.

"It will be funny to play him again," Wawrinka said. "I will be happy to play him three straight years in a row. We had some crazy matches in the past.

"You know when you play Novak, especially in the semi-final in a slam, you have to play your best game."

Wawrinka looked to be cruising in his tie-break with Nishikori, but the Japanese player saved match point after match point with a combination of great shots and errors by Wawrinka.

Nishikori made the biggest error at the wrong time, however, attempting a drop shot from the back of the court that bundled into the net. That set up another match point for Wawrinka, which he converted with an ace, his 20th of the match.

"I don't feel pressure by defending the title because I don't come here to defend it," Wawrinka said. "I come here as a new challenge, a new grand slam."

Andy Murray and Tomas Berdych will play in the other men's semi-final on Thursday after they saw off Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal respectively.

Stan Wawrinka let slip a 6-1 lead in the third-set tie-break before recovering to win © Getty Images

Enlarge

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd