Australian Open 2015: Stan Wawrinka defeats Kei Nishikori to keep title defence on track

Defending champion won 6-3 6-4 7-6 (8/6)

Stan Wawrinka (GETTY IMAGES)

Stan Wawrinka continued his impressive defence of the Australian Open title with a straight-sets win over Japan's Kei Nishikori in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

Wawrinka defeated fifth seed Nishikori 6-3 6-4 7-6 (8/6) in two hours and four minutes on Rod Laver Arena and has dropped just one set in reaching the semi-finals.

The 29-year-old will face either world number one Novak Djokovic or eighth seed Milos Raonic in the last four on Friday.

Nishikori had won their previous encounter, also in the quarter-finals of a grand slam, in five sets on his way to the final of the US Open at Flushing Meadows last year.

But fourth seed Wawrinka dominated today's match from the outset and his only nervous moments came when Nishikori saved five match points from 6-1 down in the tie-break.

"I am still nervous at the end of the tie-break," admitted Wawrinka, who eventually took his sixth match point with his 20th ace. "It's never easy. He is returning well and you have to go for it. I was a little bit defensive but I am happy to get through."

Asked about his approach to the tournament in an on-court interview, Wawrinka added: "I don't come back to defend, I don't come back to win again. I come back to start a new grand slam

"There is no easy match (in the semi-final), it's going to be a tough one but so far I am playing well and am so happy to be back and playing the semi-final again."

PA