Two-times runner-up Andy Murray made it to his third successive Australian Open semi-final on Wednesday, triggering a new bout of British hope and optimism.

But any sense of glory seems as far away as ever for Murray in a men’s singles championship that is running according to the script.

Murray, the fourth seed and the keeper of his country’s tennis dream, carved up Japan’s Kei Nishikori 6-3 6-3 6-1 to breeze into his third semi on end in Australia.

“Yeah, it’s been a good run,” Murray said.

“It’s not easy to do because of the guys that are playing at the top just now.”

Despite the absence of a grand slam title, Murray said he was consoled by having produced his best tennis at the four majors.

“That’s something the last couple years I wanted to make sure I was doing,” he said.

“It wasn’t always the case.”

As convincingly as Murray has played in his five matches so far at the Open, he will need to raise his game to a level that has so far eluded him to claim his first grand slam singles title and the first for a British man in 75 years.

Should he make the final, Murray will meet either second seed Rafael Nadal or third seed Roger Federer.

Murray has been as high as No.2 in the world, but patterns have emerged in his record that suggest the top few, particularly Novak Djokovic and Nadal, the only players to beat him in grand slams last year, have his measure.

In 2011, Murray made his third successive Wimbledon semi-final and was beaten in the past two by Nadal, who also beat him in last year’s French and US Opens.

Djokovic defeated him in the 2011 Australian Open final and Federer stopped him in 2010.

While Murray has had trouble closing the deal in major championships, he comes to the semis in Melbourne with imposing tournament statistics.

Not since his opening match of the championship has he dropped a set, and rarely has he looked like doing so.

In the quarters, he proved ruthless in ending the Japanese sensation’s run.

Nishikori had displayed both skill and endurance in beating Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in five sets in the fourth round, only to succumb meekly to Murray two days later.

The 24th seed said he’d been troubled by an ankle problem early in the match and had considered pulling out in the first set.

After a few games he said the problem improved, but he still seemed weary and struggled with concentration as Murray raced to an early lead in the first set.

Despite flashes of resistance, and the support of kimono-clad fans, Nishikori failed to take the initiative at any stage as Murray ran him around the court.

Murray said he sensed his opponent’s fatigue early in the match.

“He’s had some long ones and I’ve had some shorter matches,” Murray said.

“I thought it showed a lot on him.”

As comprehensive as the victory appeared, the 24-year-old Scot said he had identified some areas of improvement he could make before his next match.

“I think I need to serve better … but I returned well.”

Rather than blame his injury, Nishikori said he had simply not been good enough.

“Physically or mentally … and maybe tennis too,” he said.

“But I’m not disappointed.”

The last British man to win a grand slam singles title was Fred Perry who scored the last of his eight grand slam wins in the US in 1936.