Federer reaches Australian Open semifinals

MELBOURNE, Australia - Defending champion Roger Federer advanced to the Australian Open semifinals with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 win over Stanislas Wawrinka early Tuesday in a mismatch that had the intensity of a practice session.

Federer, aiming to become the first man to win five Australian titles, was playing in his record-tying 27th consecutive major singles quarterfinal. He is into his eighth consecutive semifinal at Melbourne Park.

Wawrinka was playing at this stage for only the second time at a major and struggled against Federer in the first all-Swiss quarterfinal at a major. He had beaten Federer only once in their seven previous matches.

Wawrinka received a code violation for smashing his racket into the ground, shattering the frame, after falling behind 2-0 in the third. His intensity picked up, but it was too late.

"I obviously played Stan many times in practice and in matches . . . maybe a bit of a battle for him to get used to the conditions," Federer said.

Federer next plays the winner of Tuesday's match between No. 3 Novak Djokovic and Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych.

In men's matches played last night, Rafael Nadal reached the quarterfinals with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-3 win over Marin Cilic, extending his winning streak to 25 in major singles matches.

He next plays fellow Spaniard David Ferrer, who fended off big-serving 20-year-old Canadian qualifier Milos Raonic, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4.

Andy Murray, the last man to beat Nadal at a major - in their quarterfinal here last year - made only 10 unforced errors in a 6-3, 6-1, 6-1 win over Jurgen Melzer. In the quarterfinals, he'll meet Alexandr Dolgopolov, who ousted French Open finalist Robin Soderling, 1-6, 6-3, 6-1, 4-6, 6-2.

In a match Tuesday, Li Na beat Andrea Petkovic, 6-2, 6-4, to reach back-to-back women's semifinals at the Australian Open and set new benchmarks for tennis in China.

Li, who lost the 2010 semifinal in two tiebreak sets to eventual champion Serena Williams, won the title at a tuneup event in Sydney and is on a 10-match winning streak.

No Chinese woman has won a major, but Petkovic thinks that can change here.

"I think she played really well," Petkovic said. "I think she's going to win the tournament."