Top seed Novak Djokovic and defending champion Stan Wawrinka will renew their intense Australian Open rivalry in the semi-finals after both men enjoyed straight-set wins in Melbourne.
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.
Djokovic tamed Milos Raonic's formidable serve before humbling the Canadian 7-6 (7/5) 6-4 6-2.
Eighth seed Raonic was supposed to offer the first real test for the top-seeded Serb but was completely outclassed under the lights at Rod Laver Arena.
After being edged in the tie-break, Djokovic broke Raonic early in the second set and twice in the third without giving up a single break point on his own serve.
"I returned very well, tried to get as many balls back in play,” Djokovic said in an on-court interview after the match.
“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.
Wawrinka continued his impressive defence with a 6-3 6-4 7-6 (8/6) win over Japan's Kei Nishikori.
The Swiss star defeated fifth seed Nishikori in two hours and four minutes and has dropped just one set in reaching the semi-finals.
Nishikori had won their last encounter in the quarter-finals of the US Open in five sets on his way to the final at Flushing Meadows last year.
But fourth seed Wawrinka dominated today's match from the outset and his only nervous moments came when Nishikori saved five match points from 6-1 down in the tie-break.
"I am still nervous at the end of the tie-break," admitted Wawrinka, who eventually took his sixth match point with his 20th ace.
"It's never easy. He is returning well and you have to go for it. I was a little bit defensive but I am happy to get through."
Asked about his approach to the tournament in an on-court interview, Wawrinka added: "I don't come back to defend, I don't come back to win again. I come back to start a new grand slam.
"There is no easy match (in the semi-final), it's going to be a tough one but so far I am playing well and am so happy to be back and playing the semi-final again."
Nishikori admitted he paid for a slow start and regretted an audacious attempted drop shot which gave Wawrinka his sixth match point.
"I started to feel more comfortable in the third set, especially after I found out that I could go a little more aggressive than the first and second set," the 25-year-old said.
"I was mixing up serve and volleys. My serve was much better than first couple sets because I was making more first serves. I was struggling with my serve and that's why I couldn't get a good rhythm in the first and second set.
"The tie-breaker was really close. If I could get that one, it might change the whole thing. But, you know, he was serving really well until end of the set.
"So I think I have to give him credit. He obviously played really aggressive and played great tennis."
