Melbourne, Jan 28: Defending champion Stanislas Wawrinka powered past World No.5 Kei Nishikori with a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6(6) victory to reach the Australian Open tennis semifinals here Wednesday.

Wawrinka would face the winner of the clash between No.1 Novak Djokovic and No.8 Milos Raonic in the semi-final.

Last year at this stage, the Swiss defeated No.7 Tomas Berdych and No.3 Rafael Nadal to win his first Grand Slam championship.

Wawrinka is now on a 19-match winning streak in the month of January, having won the Chennai Open earlier this month.

IANS