World No.1 Novak Djokovic has overcome an injury worry and a brave challenge from Spaniard David Ferrer to set up a Friday night semi-final clash with Andy Murray at the Australian Open.
The defending champion didn't have it all his own way against an opponent who gave his all throughout the 164-minute clash at Rod Laver Arena, and sent a scare through his camp when he grabbed his grabbed at his left hamstring midway through the second set.
But he powered on through any pain he may have been feeling and it was ultimately his class that won the day as he prevailed 6-4 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 to keep his quest for a third Melbourne Park crown and fifth Grand Slam trophy on track with a rematch of last year's final against Murray.
The victories from Djokovic and Murray on Wednesday, a day after both Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal also advanced, means the top four seeds at the tournament are through to the semi-finals.
For Ferrer his review of the match will be largely about missed opportunities, particularly in the second-set tie-breaker when he led 4-2 but played several loose shots as he lost the final five points to give up the set and all the momentum.
Djokovic seized on his advantage from that point, winning nine points in succession from the deficit in the tie-breaker, 19 of the next 21 points as he raced to a 3-0 lead in the third set and 31 of the final 41 for the match.
Ferrer's failure in the tie-breaker also continued a miserable run for him at Melbourne Park, the 29-year-old having now lost 13 tie-breakers in a row dating back to his sole tie-break success here way back in in 2004 in the opening round against Gilles Muller.
Earlier, British No.4 seed Murray blasted his way into the semis at Melbourne Park for the third consecutive year, seeing off Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-3 6-1 at Rod Laver Arena in just two hours and 12 minutes.
Having been beaten in the past two finals here, once each by Roger Federer and Djokovic, Murray is aiming to become the first player since his coach Ivan Lendl 21 years ago to make the men's final here in three consecutive years.
Early in the night match it was Ferrer who had to absorb plenty of pressure on serve as he saved three break points in each of his first two service games but he finally cracked in the fifth game and surrendered the set in 58 minutes after missing his only break point as Djokovic served for it.
Djokovic opened the second set by breaking again but he then appeared to strain his hamstring stretching to reach a ball in the fourth game - on the way to giving the break back - and spent several seconds down on his haunches recovering from the rally.
He broke for a third time in the 11th game, giving him the chance to serve for a two-sets-to-love lead but Ferrer hit back from seemingly nowhere to force the tie-breaker and looked set to level proceedings before Djokovic got hot again.
From there Ferrer was mentally shot and it came as no surprise that he dropped his first service game of the third set and then his third as well, with Djokovic comfortably holding to complete his win.
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