Australian Open: Djokovic beats Raonic, sets up semi-final clash with Federer

Djokovic dominated Raonic in all three sets and secured a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 win in the match to set up a semi-final clash with Roger Federer, who made it to the semi-finals after beating Tennys Sandgren of USA by 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3.

Melbourne: The Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic on Tuesday cruised to the semi-finals of Australian Open after securing a win over Canada's Milos Raonic.

• Djokovic dominated Raonic in all three sets and secured a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 win in the match. With this victory, the Serbian player has advanced to his eighth Australian Open semi-final.
  

  Djokovic vs Raonic scorecard
• In the semi-final match, Djokovic will compete against Roger Federer, who made it to the semi-finals after beating Tennys Sandgren of USA by 6-3, 2-6, 2-6, 7-6, 6-3.

The Swiss great came back from two sets to one down and fought off seven match points.

Federer won the first set but later conceded the second and third. Sandgren, who was looking to get to his first Grand Slam semi-final in seven attempts, reached match point seven times in the third set. Each time, however, the 38-year-old, managed to get back. In the end, Federer won the fourth set tie-breaker and took the fifth set.

The world number three, Federer, has now entered his 15th semi-final of the Australian Open.

He has also become the oldest player since Australia's Ken Rosewall in 1977 to make it to the semi-finals of the tournament.

Meanwhile, Djokovic, who is defending his Australian Open title, paid tribute to Kobe Bryant after his quarter-final match.

Djokovic was good friends with the basketball star, who was killed in a helicopter crash on Sunday, and he came out for the match on Rod Laver Arena wearing a jacket bearing the initials KB, Bryant's numbers eight and 24 and a heart.

The 32-year-old broke down as he spoke about Bryant afterwards, saying: "I don't know what we could say. It really caught us by surprise.

"He was one of the greatest athletes of all time, he inspired myself and many other people around the world. I had that fortune to have a personal relationship with him over the last 10 years," Djokovic said.

"When I needed some advice and support, he was there for me. He was my mentor, my friend, it's just heartbreaking to see what has happened to him and his daughter. It's unbelievable," he added.