Djokovic, who is still yet to drop a set, cruised to a comfortable 7-6, 6,4, 6-2 victory and the Serbian top seed will now face Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka for the third year in a row at the tournament after the defending champion beat Japan's Kei Nishikori in straight sets.

There will be no fairy-tale last four clash between the Williams sisters however as Venus crashed out with a three-set defeat to American compatriot Madison Keys, while Serena earned a dominant 6-2, 6-2 win over Slovakia's Dominika Cibulkova.

Both men's quarter-finals looked to be exciting contests on paper but they proved to be much more commanding affairs for both victors.

Djokovic managed to nullify Canadian Raonic's blistering serve, using his trademark return to dictate proceedings.

Raonic had lost his service just twice in the tournament before he faced the imperious world number one, and although the first set went to a tie-break, Djokovic proved too strong as he swept aside the 24-year-old to progress to his 25th Grand Slam semi-final.

Wawrinka meanwhile also enjoyed a relatively trouble-free match with Nishikori, who surged up the world rankings last year following a string of superb performances.

He could not quite produce any of that form, though, as the Swiss marched to a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 win to set up yet another meeting with Djokovic.

19-year-old Madison Keys claimed a three-sets win over Venus Williams to reach the semi-finals of a Grand Slam for the first time in her career ©Getty Images



In the women's draw, 19-year-old Keys will make her maiden appearance in a Grand Slam semi-final following her surprise win over Venus Williams.

The unseeded American took the first set but Williams displayed her fighting quality to take the second and set up a tense finale, but Keys eventually claimed a 6-3, 4-6, 6-4 victory in one hour and 54 minutes.

Top seed Serena Williams battled through illness as she beat Cibulkova in straight sets to keep her dream of winning her first Australian Open title since 2010 alive.

"I've felt better, but I'm feeling okay," she said.

"I'm just happy to still be in the tournament.

"I've been sick the past few days and it's just getting worse and worse.

"But hopefully it will start getting better."

Williams will face Keys in tomorrow's semi-final, and Maria Sharapova is also in action as she takes on Ekaterina Makarova in an all-Russian clash for a place in the final.

In the sole men's last four contest to take place on Thursday, Britain's Andy Murray meets Czech Republic's Tomáš Berdych, who conquered Spain's Rafael Nadal in the quarter-finals.

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