Nadal masters Raonic to reach Australian Open semi-finals

Rafael Nadal claimed a dominant straight-sets win over world number three Milos Raonic to advance to the semi-finals at the Australian Open on Wednesday.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion was too clinical for the Canadian, winning 6-4, 7-6 (9/7), 6-4 in two hours 44 minutes and will play Bulgaria’s 15th seed Grigor Dimitrovin Friday’s semi-final. He leads Dimitrov 7-1.

Nadal kept alive hopes of a much-anticipated ninth Grand Slam final with his great rival Roger Federer as the tournament got down to the last four.

It is the Spanish great’s first Grand Slam semi-final appearance since his last 2014 French Open triumph after recent injury setbacks.

“Milos is a very difficult opponent. He beat me two weeks ago in Brisbane in a tough match so I decided to go a little bit more inside the court on the return tonight,” Nadal said.