Swiss Tennis star Roger Federer powered into his 14th Australian Open semi-final as he swept aside Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic in straight sets.
The world number two continued his pursuit of a 20th Grand Slam title with a 7-6, 6-3, 6-4 win at the Rod Laver Arena.
Federer, the second seed, made a slow start to the match as Berdych, who lost last year’s Wimbledon semi-final to the Swiss player, seized control.
The Czech 19th seed went 3-0 up and served for the first set at 5-3 before Federer recovered and claimed the opener on a tie-break.
It turned the tide of the contest as Federer found his form and wrapped up what proved to be a convincing win.
The 36-year-old will take on Hyeon Chung in the last four after the South Korean dispatched American Tennys Sandgren 6-4, 7-6, 6-3.
“You don’t want to think too far ahead, what if, what if, because I feel that’s exactly the moment when you stumble,” Federer said.
“That’s why I think I was actually very nervous going into this match tonight, and that’s why I struggled very early on.
“I knew the danger of Berdych.
“Seeing what has happened to so many other top seeds here in the draw, I was a bit wary going into tonight.”
In the women’s singles, world number one Simona Halep of Romania ousted Karolina Pliskova of the Czech Republic 6-3, 6-2 to reach the last four.
Halep will face Germany’s Angelique Kerber after she beat American Madison Keys 6-1, 6-2 in just 51 minutes.
