Roger Federer kept his bid for a fifth Indian Wells ATP Masters crown on track on Thursday, cruising past South African Kevin Anderson 7-5 6-1 to reach the semi-finals.

Federer, owner of a record 17 grand slam titles, arrived in California fresh from securing his first trophy in nine months in Dubai.

Seeded seventh, the 32-year-old Swiss great is seeking to add to the Indian Wells titles he captured in 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2012.

Anderson had beaten third-seeded Australian Open champion Stanislas Wawrinka en route to the quarters, handing the Swiss his first defeat of 2014 after 13 match wins.

But he could make little headway against Federer, who saved the only break point he faced in the third game of the opening set.

Federer next faces Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov, who brushed past big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic 6-3 6-4.

Dolgopolov, ranked 31st in the world, stunned world number one Rafael Nadal in the third round and is in the semi-finals of an ATP Masters event for the first time.

Meanwhile in the women’s draw, top seed Li Na edged Dominika Cibulkova in three sets on Thursday, reprising her victory over the Slovakian in the Australian Open final to book an Indian Wells semi-final berth.

Li sweated out a 6-3 4-6 6-3 victory in two hours and 36 minutes, battling a more aggressive Cibulkova as well as her own erratic play.

Li will face Flavia Pennetta, who defeated Sloane Stephens 6-4 5-7 6-4.

The other women’s semi-final is between second-seeded Agnieszka Radwanska and Romanian Simona Halep.