Defending champion Roger Federer reached his 14th Australian Open semi-final with a straight-set victory over Tomas Berdych.

Second seed Federer, beat the Czech 19th seed 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 6-4 in the Rod Laver Arena last night.

It was their 10th meeting at Grand Slams, and an eighth win for the Swiss player.

Federer says tennis is more than just a sport.

“There is a lot that can be said about where you come from, where you playing or what you going through, and I think the fans enjoy that, they really get a closing of you and it reflects that they really feel what you are going through.”

Federer goes on to face unseeded 21-year-old Hyeon Chung of South Korea in the second semi-final on Friday.

Britain’s Kyle Edmund takes on sixth seed Marin Cilic of Croatia in the first semi-final today.

Meanwhile, World number one Simona Halep produced a superb performance to beat Karolina Pliskova in straight sets to reach the Australian Open semi-finals.

The Romanian, won nine games in a row from 3-0 down in the first set as she went on to triumph 6-3 6-2.

Halep will face Angelique Kerber in the last four after the German thrashed Madison Keys 6-1 6-2 in 51 minutes.