Novak Djokovic to face Stan Wawrinka in Australian Open semis

Top seed Novak Djokovic and defending champion Stan Wawrinka will renew their intense Australian Open rivalry in the semi-finals after both men enjoyed comfortable wins in Melbourne on Wednesday.

Wawrinka continued his impressive title defence with a straight-sets win over Japan's Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals, before Djokovic outclassed the big-serving Milos Raonic on Rod Laver Arena.

Djokovic beat Wawrinka 12-10 in the fifth set in a fourth-round clash before claiming his third straight title in 2013, but Wawrinka ended the world number one’s 25-match unbeaten run in Melbourne in the quarter-finals last year, winning 9-7 in the fifth.

“The crowd are definitely expecting a marathon like the last couple of years and I am sure both of us will give our best to perform the best possible tennis,” Djokovic said in an on-court interview after beating eighth seed Raonic 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 6-2.

“We always ask from each other the most of our own abilities on the court so I am looking forward to it.”

Djokovic, who has not dropped a set on the way to the semi-finals and only lost his serve once, added: “It was a great performance, definitely no complaints.

“I returned very well, tried to get as many balls back in play. Some games I had to just let it go and wait for the opportunities and when they are presented obviously try to use them and that’s what I’ve done.

"There are not many tournaments where I have just dropped serve once so I should enjoy it. It feels like Boris Becker on the court. Now I know how he feels."

That was a reference to Djokovic’s coach, who nevertheless came in for some light-hearted criticism for leaving the court to answer a call of nature.

“Like everyone he has a need to go to the toilet which I understand... but in the moment I had a break point and I thought he was guilty for me not using that break point,” Djokovic joked.