Intro:

Stan Wawrinka beat Kei Nishikori 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (6) in the quarter-finals of the Australian Open on Wednesday (28 January), keeping the Swiss world number four on course to defend his Grand Slam title in Melbourne.

Script:

Kei Nishikori's supporters were out in force for his quater final with Switzerland's Stan Wawrinka; this was expected to be a fiercly contested match with both players displaying realistic hopes of making the semis.

Wawrinka and Japan's Nishikori last met in the U.S. Open quarter-finals in 2014 when Nishikori won in five sets.

But this time the match was over in a much quicker time.

Wawrinka took the first set 6-3, and the second 6-4 for a two set lead.

The third went into a tiebreaker.

Wawrinka, the fourth seed, raced to a 4-0 and 6-1 lead before Nishikori saved five match points to level the score at six-all

But Nishikori, who was seeded fifth, attempted a drop shot that didn't clear the net to set up another match point, which Wawrinka converted with an ace, his 20th of the contest.

Defending champion Wawrinka advanced to the semi-finals in straight sets.

He will play either top-seeded Novak Djokovic or Milos Raonic in the last four.