World No.2 Roger Federer marched a step closer to a sixth US Open title after beating Robin Soderling in straight sets on Wednesday.
Federer, a 16-time grand slam winner, outclassed the fifth seed, winning the match 6-4 6-4 7-5.
The win puts Federer through to the semi-finals at Flushing Meadows for the seventh consecutive year and sets up a clash with No.3 seed Novak Djokovic.
Federer has knocked the Serbian out of the last three US Opens, including the final in 2007.
Soderling was expected to cause problems for the Swiss having upset him in the quarter-finals at the French Open earlier this year, but Federer put in an assured performance on Wednesday in tough conditions on Arthur Ashe Stadium.
The strong winds had caused havoc in earlier matches and Federer and Soderling were not immune to the conditions, with both players making a number of uncharacteristic errors.
But Federer was able to get on the front foot and be aggressive, hitting 15 more winners than the big Swede and delivering an impeccable serving performance with 18 aces to Soderling's two.
The first set went on serve until Soderling had the chance to break Federer in the seventh game.
But a brilliant half-volley from the second seed averted helped him avert danger, before creating a break point opportunity of his own the very next game and sealing it with a delicate forehand drop shot.
The players traded breaks at the start of the second set before Federer got the upper hand and took a 4-2 lead.
Soderling couldn't find a way past the Federer serve and consequently lost the second set 6-4.
In the eighth game of the third set Federer sprayed a regulation forehand to give Soderling a vital break of serve to lead 5-3.
But a double fault and three unforced errors in the next game let Federer back into the set, and the Swiss maestro went on to win four straight games to wrap up the match.