Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic breeze into semifinal showdown

Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer are 22-all in career head-to-heads, have nine Australian Open titles between them, and warmed up for a semifinal meeting with clinical quarterfinal wins.

Djokovic's 5-0 in semifinals, and in finals, in the season's first major. He advanced with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win over No. 7 Kei Nishikori in the night match on Rod Laver.

Four-time champion Federer capped the afternoon session with a 7-6 (4), 6-2, 6-4 win over No. 6 Tomas Berdych, reaching his 12th Australian Open semifinal and his 39th in a Grand Slam. He hasn't gone past the semifinals here since winning the title in 2010.

Federer has some added inspiration in his next match against Djokovic. He lost to the Serbian star five of the six times they met in finals in 2015, including Wimbledon and the U.S. Open.

The 34-year-old Federer used a full array of shots, including some vintage backhands, in his 48 winners, to avenge two losses to Berdych at Wimbledon in 2010 and the 2012 U.S. Open.

''Tomas has caused me a lot of problems over the years,'' said Federer, who improved to 16-6 against the Czech player. ''He's one of those guys who make you a better player, he's beaten me on the biggest courts around the world.

He's now the oldest man since 1979 (Colin Dibley) to reach the Australian Open semis.