Federer strolls into semis

Roger Federer zeroed in on a 20th Grand Slam title Wednesday with Chung Hyeon next in his Australian Open firing line as dominant Angelique Kerber and Simona Halep raced into a semifinal showdown.

The clinical Swiss ace strode into the last four at Melbourne Park for a 14th time with a clinical 7-6 (7/1), 6-3, 6-4 dismantling of old foe Tomas Berdych.

He now faces Chung on Friday for a place in the final after the unseeded South Korean kept his dream run going by battling past American Tennys Sandgren 6-4, 7-6 (7/5), 6-3 to become the lowest-ranked semifinalist since Marat Safin in 2004.

Germany's Kerber, champion two years ago, swept aside Madison Keys 6-1, 6-2, easily taming the American's big serve and will go into her clash with the world number one on a 14-match win streak.

Top seed Halep was equally impressive on Rod Laver Arena in thumping sixth seed Karolina Pliskova 6-3, 6-2, reeling off nine games in a row after going 0-3 behind in the first set.

Defending champion Federer, chasing a sixth Australian title, held a 19-6 lead over the Czech 19th seed going into the match and after a close first set, it was one-way traffic.

"I'm very happy I got out of that first set, it was key to the match in the end," he said, adding that he was excited to now be up against Chung.

"It's great to see new names on the scene. He reminds me a lot of Novak (Djokovic)."

Ranked 58, the bespectacled Chung, nicknamed "The Professor", proved too hot for his fellow quarter-final rookie Sandgren, although he needed six match points before claiming victory.

"I never played in second week of a Grand Slam, so I'm really surprised," said the delighted Suwon native, who is the first player -- man or woman -- from his country to reach a Grand Slam semifinal.

"I'm just trying to stay focused," added the 21-year-old as he prepares to face Federer, having already knocked out an injured Djokovic.