Novak Djokovic sets up Roger Federer semi

Novak Djokovic has progressed through to the semi-finals of the Australian Open with a straight-sets victory over Kei Nishikori.

© AFP

The world number one lost to his Japanese rival at the same stage in 2014 but swept him aside 6-3 6-2 6-4 in just two hours seven minutes on this occasion.

Nishikori had a chance to make the contest less of a one-sided affair in the third set, breaking twice, but the Serb held firm with a break of his own in the seventh game before cruising to victory.

Djokovic - the defending champion in Melbourne - now goes on to face long-time adversary Roger Federer in the semi-final, their 45th encounter, with the head-to-head record finely balanced at 22-22.