Venus Williams, Fedex weave magic

Melbourne: Venus Williams continued her astonishing late-career revival by felling Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 6-4, 7-6(3) on Tuesday to reach her first Australian Open semi-final in 14 years.

The quarter-final will hardly be remembered as a classic, with both Williams and the 24th-ranked Russian surrendering serve with alarming regularity despite perfect conditions for tennis at Rod Laver Arena.

Four-times champion Roger Federer took apart Mischa Zverev 6-1, 7-5, 6-2 with a clinical display of all-court tennis to reach his 13th Australian Open semi-final in one hour and thirty-two minutes on Tuesday.

Chasing an 18th grand slam title, and first since 2012, the 35-year-old Federer neutered his left-handed German opponent's serve-volley game to set up a last-four meeting with fellow Swiss Stan Wawrinka.

Wawrinka reached his third consecutive Australian Open semi-final after decimating Frenchman Jo-Wifred Tsonga. After being stretched in the opening set, the Swiss took little time to beat Tsonga 7-6(7-2), 6-4, 6-3.

Coco Vandeweghe blasted her way into her first Grand Slam semifinal with a dominant display of power tennis to destroy French Open champion Garbine Muguruza 6-4, 6-0.

The 25-year-old American, who was equally as impressive in dispatching world number one Angelique Kerber in the previous round, controlled the match from the seventh game of the first set when she achieved her first break of serve.

Having taken 56 minutes to wrap up the first set, Vandeweghe raced through the second as she blasted winners from both sides of the court and did not give Muguruza a break opportunity until she was serving for the match. She will now meet compatriot Venus Williams in Thursday's semifinal.