Djokovic thrashes Raonic to set up Wawrinka semi-final

Novak Djokovic tamed Milos Raonic’s formidable serve before humbling the Canadian 7-6, 6-4, 6-2 at the Australian Open to set up a mouth-watering semi-final against defending champion Stan Wawrinka.

Eighth-seed Raonic, who pushed deep at the grand slams last year, was supposed to offer the first real test for the top-seeded Serb but was completely outclassed under the lights at Rod Laver Arena.

After being edged in the tiebreak, Djokovic broke Raonic early in the second set and twice in the third, without giving up a single break point on his own serve.

He closed out the two-hour match with a clinical volley and will play the man that ended his title defence at Melbourne Park in last year’s quarter-finals.

Earlier, Wawrinka avenged a tough defeat to Kei Nishikori at last year’s US Open with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 victory that he sealed with his 20th ace on his sixth match point.