Melbourne, Jan. 30: Swiss tennis great Roger Federer swept to the brink of grand slam immortality by outclassing American Andy Roddick on Thursday night in the semi-finals of the Australian Open.

Federer, 27, is within three winning sets of landing his 14th major and his fourth Melbourne Park crown after whipping Roddick 6-2 7-5
7-5.

Melbourne  - Jelena Dokic made more than a run to glory with her surprise Australian Open quarter-final. The comeback player also headed straight for the bank - the result of a new 680,000-dollar sponsor contract.

The 25-year-old, who nearly quit the game two years ago due to depression after a flame-out as a teenaged star and a split with her dominating father, has signed a deal with Australia's Jetstar airlines.

Melbourne  - Former great Patrick Rafter has voiced his doubts about the desire of deposed Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic after the Serb's retirement during his quarter-final with Andy Roddick.

During a television match commentary, the double US Open champion and one of the most popular of the former Aussie players, had his say about the increasingly controversial Djokovic.

Rafter said that the 21-year-old had a history of "pulling the pin" (with four retirements in Grand Slam matches).

Melbourne, Australia  - Nine-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams snapped a three-match loss streak to Elena Dementieva as she knocked the Russian out 6-3,
6-4 in the semi-finals of the Australian Open on Thursday.

Dementieva, the fourth-seeded Olympic champion, has now exited the discussion for possibly taking over the top spot.

It was her first loss of the season after winning her first 15 matches, including titles in Auckland and Sydney.

Melbourne, Australia  - Spanish friends Rafael Nadal and Fernando Verdasco should be comfortable in their night semi-final on Friday at the Australian Open, after a cool change drops heatwave temperatures down to the upper 20s degrees Celsius.

Top seed Nadal takes a commanding 7-0 mark into the contest, which could be played under a closed roof at the Rod Laver arena if it is still deemed too hot for safe play.

Melbourne  - Australian Open semi-finalist Elena Dementieva credits the winter warmth of Miami for giving a turbo boost to her tennis in 2009.

Instead of fighting the Moscow weather and training indoors with snow outside, the world number four got herself to Florida for uninterrupted weeks of solid preparation.

The system paid off, with two titles so far this season and a semi-final spot at the Open.