Andy Murray has cruised into the Australian Open semi-finals with a straight-sets defeat of Japan’s Kei Nishikori.
Murray, the fourth seed, proved too strong in every department, winning 6-3 6-3 6-1.
The victory put the British star into his fifth consecutive grand slam semi-final.
But with the world’s top three players queued up ahead of him, his chances of scoring a breakthrough major win appear as elusive as ever.
Murray has been runner-up at the past two Australian Opens, losing to Novak Djokovic last year and Roger Federer in 2010.
Both players, along with world No.2 Rafael Nadal, remain in contention in a tournament that has so far gone according to the script.
Nishikori had provided the surprise among the final eight, making it through as the 24th seed and becoming the first Japanese player in 80 years to make the quarters at the Australian Open.