The world number one, who has already won the Australian Open in 2018, claimed his 16th win of the year with a straightforward success against the world number 26 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden.

He battled through the first set 7-5 before romping through the second 6-1. 

It equalled the 36-year-old's start to the 2006 season where he eventually won 33 of his first 34 matches and three of the year's four Grand Slams.

Federer will now play Borna Ćorić for a place in the final after the Croat surprised South Africa's seventh seed Kevin Anderson 2-6, 6-4, 7-6.

The match was also followed by Germany's Tommy Haas, the Indian Wells tournament director, announcing his retirement from the sport.

Haas, 39, won 15 singles titles and finished eight seasons ranked in the world's top 20. 

"The sport gave me cherished friendships, an ability to travel the world, and opportunities to create incredible memories," he said.

United States' Venus Williams also enjoyed a straight-sets win to reach the semi-finals of the women's singles draw today.

The seven-time Grand Slam winner required just 71 minutes to thrash Spaniard Carla Suarez Navarro 6-3, 6-2.

Russia's Daria Kasatkina lies in wait next after the world number 19 thrashed Germany's ex-world number one Angelique Kerber 6-0, 6-2.

It continues a superb week in which Kasatkina has already beaten American Sloane Stephens and Denmark's Caroline Wozniacki, the respective reigning US Open and Australian Open champions.

The tournament is due to continue tomorrow.