A chest-thumping Novak Djokovic blasted his way past Czech Tomas Berdych 6-1, 7-6, 6-1 in a heavyweight clash on Tuesday to set up an Australian Open semi-final with Roger Federer.
"I have nothing to lose against Federer," Djokovic told reporters. "He's the title holder and we all know how good he is. He's the best player ever.
"I have to be confident and stay positive," added Djokovic, who knocked the Swiss maestro out of last year's U.S. Open at the semi-final stage having saved two match points. "If I play well I have a chance."
The Serb third seed, Melbourne champion in 2008, caught fire early, tearing through a one-sided first set in just 36 minutes under floodlights at Rod Laver Arena.
Sixth seed Berdych dug deep to force a tiebreak in the second but a wild forehand from last year's beaten Wimbledon finalist gifted it to Djokovic 7-5, and with it a two-set lead.
Berdych, cheered on again by an army of bare-chested Australian fans, hung his head, knowing he needed a minor miracle to turn the match around.
Djokovic quickly went for the jugular in the third, securing a double-break for 5-1 with a drilled forehand return and finishing off Berdych with a big serve down the middle after two hours and 32 minutes.
"I didn't even have two weeks off after winning the Davis Cup with Serbia," said Djokovic. "But I've played some of my best tennis in the last couple of months."
Berdych took his loss on the chin.
"Pretty solid start to the year, finishing quarter-finals in Melbourne," he said. "I played the third (best) player in the world. It's not that you can beat him everyday."
Meanwhile, Federer made a quick dash into an eighth straight Australian Open semi-final but Caroline Wozniacki was forced to go the distance to reach her first.
Wozniacki, under huge pressure to vindicate her number one ranking with a maiden major title, found herself a set and a break down to Francesca Schiavone before rallying to overcome the tiring French Open champion 3-6, 6-3, 6-3.
The 20-year-old will play Li Na for a place in her first Australian Open final after the ninth seeded Chinese sealed her place in the last four for a second year in a row with a commanding 6-2, 6-4 victory over German Andrea Petkovic.
With 16 Grand Slam titles to his name, Federer has nothing left to prove to anyone -- least of all that he is the best player in Switzerland -- and the defending champion outclassed compatriot Stansilas Wawrinka 6-1, 6-3, 6-3 with a dazzling all-court game.
