No secrets in all-Swiss Aussie Open semis between Federer, Wawrinka

MELBOURNE, Australia — Roger Federer certainly knows what to expect in his Australian Open semifinal. And so does his opponent Stan Wawrinka.

Both agreed there will be no secrets in the all-Swiss showdown for a place in Sunday's final.

"I think him and Rafa (Nadal) best know my game. I've played him so much. Stan and I practiced so much together," Federer said. "With Rafa, I only practiced once in my life, whereas with Stan, I can't even keep count anymore."

The first of the men's semifinals will be played in the night session Thursday, following the women's semifinals which will feature three 30-somthings, and three Americans. Venus Williams, 36, will play CoCo Vandeweghe before Serena Williams, 35, takes on 34-year-old Mirjana Lucic-Baroni.

Federer holds an imposing 18-3 lead in head-to-head encounters with Wawrinka. And, significantly, he has never lost to his compatriot on hardcourts.

While the pair have shared Davis Cup success and Olympic gold, that friendship must be temporarily put aside in the pursuit of the chance for another Australian title.

Four-time champion Federer will be playing his 13th semifinal at Melbourne Park, and the Australian Open is his most successful Grand Slam in match wins with 85.

But he's wary of Wawrinka, the 2014 champion, despite a remarkable start to 2017 after missing the second half of last year to recover from a knee injury.

"If someone would have told me I'd play in the semis against Stan, never would I have called that one for me," Federer said. "For Stan, yes, but not for me. I honestly didn't even know a few days ago that he was in my section of the draw or I'm in his section."

The 35-year-old Federer thought the quarterfinals was a realistic target for his Grand Slam comeback, but he has upgraded the expectations after hitting 65 winners past Germany's Mischa Zverev, who had upset top-ranked Andy Murray in the previous round.

Federer, who has his wife and four children with him in Australia, mused how one of his six-year-old twin girls asked when they could leave to go skiing in Switzerland. Maybe he can pacify an impatient daughter with an 18th Grand Slam singles title.