Andy Murray is through to the semi-finals of the Australian Open for the third successive year, having defeated Kei Nishikori in straight sets.

The British number one defeated the Japanese player with relative ease, closing out the quarter-final tie 6-3 6-3 6-1 in two hours and 12 minutes.

Murray will face either Novak Djokovic or David Ferrer in the last four, as the Scot bids to make the final in Melbourne for the third year running.

The Scot broke his opponent’s serve all too easily on occasion, breaking in Nishikori’s first service match, but his own serve offered cause for concern.

Just 44% of Murray’s first serves ended up in play and the world number four knows he must improve to have any chance of winning an elusive first Grand Slam.

"It was a good match, a lot of fun points, most of them he was winning so I was trying to keep them as short as possible," said Murray.

"But I need to serve better, I didn't serve particularly well but the returning was good so that was a positive.

"My game has been getting better each match and I am moving better and I am going to be fresh going into the weekend."