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Four-time Australian Open champion Novak Djokovic has a fifth in sight after moving into the semi-finals with a clinical victory over Milos Raonic.
The world No.1 outclassed the Canadian eighth seed on Rod Laver Arena 7-6 (7-5)6-4 6-2 on Wednesday night.
The win sets up a dream rematch with defending champion Stan Wawrinka, the Swiss who took him out in the quarter-finals at Melbourne Park last year.
Wawrinka earlier accounted for Japanese star Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-4 7-6 (8-6).
Djokovic withstood Raonic’s barrage of blistering serves – reaching up to 229km/h hour – as he turned defence into offence with an imposing all-court display.
Djokovic’s own serve was his biggest weapon – winning a stunning 89 per cent of points on his first serve to go through the match without losing his service game.
The Serb hasn’t dropped a set through the tournament and only lost one service game, meaning he will hit the final four high on confidence.
Djokovic led 6-3 in the first-set tiebreak, wrapping it up after Raonic fired a wild forehand.
The top seed then made an immediate statement in the second set, breaking his opponent, who was bidding to become the first Canadian man to reach the Australian Open semi-finals, in the first game.
It was effectively game over from there.
Djokovic was more than satisfied with his game.
“It was a great performance,” he said. “I’ve got no complaints.
“I returned very well and I served very well so overall just a great match.”
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