Federer Rolls into Semifinals

Defending champion Roger Federer advanced to the Australian Open semifinals with a 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 win over Stanislas Wawrinka on Tuesday in a mismatch that had all 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 Grand Slam quarterfinal when he met Wawrinka in the first all-Swiss quarterfinal at a major.

No. 19 Wawrinka was playing at this stage for only the second time at a major. Making it worse, he had only beaten Federer once in their seven previous matches.

Federer and Wawrinka combined to win the Beijing Olympics doubles gold medal for Switzerland and have been Davis Cup teammates. So meeting on such a big stage had challenges for both men.

"I play Stan obviously very different to what (Andy) Roddick or (Gael) Monfils or what other players might do against him. Clearly it's not an easy match for him also," said Federer, now into his eighth consecutive Australian Open semifinal. "I've been in so many quarterfinals, in this situation so many times before, that I have the experience and I have the game to, you know, be tricky for him.

"The scoreline suggests maybe it was easier than it looked like. I thought it was a pretty tough match."

Wawrinka had only one look at a break chance against the 16-time Grand Slam winner, in the sixth game of the second set, and lost three straight points to let Federer off the hook.

Federer cashed in on five of his seven break opportunities.

Federer next plays the winner of Tuesday's later match between No. 3 Novak Djokovic and Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych. Federer's last two Grand Slam losses have come against Berdych at Wimbledon and Djokovic at the U.S. Open. Djokovic also beat Federer in the semifinals here in 2008 before going on to win the title.

For Federer, the match will be more about making the final than seeking revenge.

"I got them back a couple of times at the end of the year," he said. "I don't feel like I need to get back at them necessarily, but I'm not just going to come out here and give them the match."