Djokovic beats Ferrer to set up semi-final with Murray, Federer to face Nadal

Djokovic was pushed to limit by Ferrer but was still able to win in straight sets

Defending champion Novak Djokovic beat Spain's David Ferrer but battled through in straight sets to set up a semi-final showdown with Andy Murray.
The world No 1 stepped up his game to win 6-4, 7-6 (7/4), 6-1 in 2 hours and 44 minutes.
Djokovic earned a crucial service break in the fifth game of the first set which proved enough for him to take the lead against the fifth seed after nearly an hour of punishing rallies.
Djokovic looked in trouble when he grimaced in pain, clutching his left hamstring as Ferrer levelled at 2-2 but he did not appear to be restricted, going on to take the tiebreak and seize a 2-0 lead.
The Serbian stepped up a gear in the third set with Ferrer unable to keep up his earlier intensity. Djokovic will now meet Murry in Friday's semi-final.
Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal will meet in their first semi-final in a slam for seven years on Thursday. This will be the most significant collision of this Australian Open to this point, and the Spaniard has rediscovered his tigerish championship game at just the right time and the Swiss, who dismissed Juan Martín del Potro in the earlier quarter-final in the crushing afternoon heat, also looks in spirits to reach the final.