Tennis: Defending champion Roger Federer advanced to an Australian Open semi-final showdown against Novak Djokovic with a straight-sets win against 12th seed James Blake.
The world number one remained composed during key points at the end of each set, though Blake won each of his three break points and made Federer work much harder than the scoreline of 7-5 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 would suggest.
The victory sends Federer into his 15th grand slam semi-final in a row and ensures he remains unbeaten against Blake in their eight matches.
Federer was not stretched beyond three sets as he won despite not consistently finding top form.
The Swiss took a rapid and evenly-contested first set 7-5 in 38 minutes, immediately breaking Blake after winning the first game.
Blake was inconsistent at times but showed moments of brilliance as he immediately broke back with strong forehands.
Each then held until the 12th game, when Federer broke again to take the set.
Federer broke to love in Blake's first service game of the second set, but again Blake immediately broke back as both players continued to struggle with unforced errors.
Blake took the sixth game with a spectacular smash and each began to find rhythm.
The 28-year-old American saved two break points in the eighth after losing his composure, shouting at a line judge. He then saved a set point in the 10th, as the second set continued with serve to a tie-break.
The Swiss earned three further set points, two of which were saved before Federer finally clinched the set.
Federer was visibly more relaxed in the third and took a
double-break to race into a 5-1 lead. Blake broke back but Federer
proved too strong, serving out the match on his first match point.
Djokovic earlier turned on the style to outclass David Ferrer
and move through to the semi-finals in impressive fashion.
The number three seed started at a breathtaking pace in clinching the first set before eventually closing out a 6-0 6-3 7-5 victory on Rod Laver Arena.
Fifth seed Ferrer, whose progress to the last eight has gone largely unnoticed, was expected to pose a stiff challenge for the 20-year-old.
But Djokovic eventually proved too good for the Spaniard after rattling through the first set in short order.
The second was more competitive with Ferrer having a chance to break the Serb at 2-2, only for Djokovic's serve to dig him out of trouble before going on to break his opponent and take the set 6-3.
Djokovic again took charge early in what turned out to be the final set but Ferrer had a chance to break at 4-3 down, only for the third seed's booming serve to once again prove crucial.
In the women's section, Ana Ivanovic survived a tough encounter with Venus Williams to book her place in the semi-finals.
The number four seed completed a 7-6 (7/3) 6-4 victory to enjoy a first career triumph over the American and set up a last four clash with Daniela Hantuchova, who beat Agnieszka Radwanska earlier in the day.
Hantuchova made the last four of a grand slam for the first time in her career with a 6-2 6-2 defeat of the 29th-seeded Pole on Rod Laver Arena.
Radwanska was unable to exert any real pressure on the Slovakian despite showing glimpses of the form that had accounted for second seed Svetlana Kuznetsova and 14th seed Nadia Petrova on her way to the quarter-finals.