Raonic bounced by Federer

MELBOURNE, Australia—The toughest sides of the men’s and women’s draws at the Australian Open are progressing true to form.
A consequence of that smooth sailing is the likelihood now of some semi-finals worthy of any Grand Slam title matches.

Second-seeded Roger Federer and Andy Murray stayed on course today for a semi-final in their half of the draw, with No. 1 and defending champ Novak Djokovic possibly waiting for the victor in next Sunday’s final.
Serena Williams, chasing her third-consecutive Grand Slam title, still is on track for a potential meeting with No. 1-ranked and defending champ Victoria Azarenka in the semi-finals.
French Open champion Maria Sharapova, the form player from the other half of the women’s draw, is likely to be the opponent for the final.
With Djokovic and Sharapova having advanced through to the quarter-finals on Sunday, the other four easily won their fourth-round matches today.
Federer concluded the Rod Laver Arena action with a 6-4, 7-6 (4), 6-2 win over Canadian Milos Raonic while Murray took advantage of Gilles Simon’s ill health and tiredness for a 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 win.
Williams and Azarenka were even more dominant—losing just four games between them against their Russian rivals.
The third-seeded Williams beat Maria Kirilenko 6-2, 6-0 while Azarenka defeated Elena Vesnina 6-1, 6-1.
Federer has won four of his 17 major titles at Melbourne Park, where he has reached the semi-finals or better every year since first winning the Australian Open in 2004.
The last time Federer failed to reach the last eight at a major was at the 2004 French Open, where he lost in the third round to Gustavo Kuerten.
He next plays No. 7 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga—a finalist here in 2008.
“You try to win every match you can as quick as you can, saving energy in the process,” reasoned Federer, who has the benefit of plenty of experience.
“At least you have a day in between, that’s big.”
Five months after he ended a 76-year drought for British men in Grand Slam tournaments with a win at the U.S. Open, Murray is on track to make it two in a row.
He’ll next play unseeded Frenchman Jeremy Chardy, who beat him the last time the pair met in Cincinnati last year.