Melbourne: Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams lived up to their top billing Wednesday with the world number ones ripping apart Milos Raonic and Dominika Cibulkova to power into the Australian Open semi-finals.
Both were in outstanding touch as they hunt for more Grand Slam glory with Djokovic meeting defending champion Stan Wawrinka for a place in the final while Williams will face unseeded Madison Keys.
Arch-rival Maria Sharapova made the semis on Tuesday and will face fellow Russian Ekaterina Makarova on Thursday.
The unseeded Keys, 19, is the tournament surprise package, fighting hard to beat a resurgent Venus 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 and end any chance of the sisters meeting in a Grand Slam semi for the first time since Wimbledon 2000.
Keys did the job despite inconvenienced by a left thigh injury.
Wawrinka shattered the dream of Japanese superstar Kei Nishikori, but not before blowing five match points in a tiebreaker as nerves got the better of him.
The Swiss fourth seed finally won 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (8/6) to deprive the fifth seed of a crack at another final, having made the US Open decider last year. (AFP)
