Veterans Federer, Venus Eye Aussie Semis

MELBOURNE, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 24th Jan, 2017 ) : Age-defying Roger Federer and Venus Williams eye yet more Grand Slam glory Tuesday, but the veterans have tough tasks ahead to reach the Australian Open semi-finals.

Swiss great Federer's chances of winning an 18th major title have been given a huge boost by the early exits of the top two seeds, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. But it won't be plain sailing for the 35-year-old on the centre court evening match against old-school serve-volleyer Mischa Zverev, who stunned Murray in round four.

"Obviously he's on a high right now. He's feeling great. Probably feels the best he's ever felt on a tennis court," Federer said of the German world number 50. "It's going to be tough and different and tricky.

That's my mindset. "Of course I'm the big favourite in this match, but I prefer to be the favourite. I did it for years and years. It makes me feel comfortable." The winner will face either 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka or former finalist Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for a place in the final.

Three-time Grand Slam champion Wawrinka has been quietly going about his business in Melbourne as the big Names tumble, and will go in as favourite against the Frenchman. "Tsonga has always been around the top 10.

He was number five in the world. He made the final here. It's going to be an interesting match," Wawrinka said. But first up on Rod Laver Arena will be Williams who, like Federer, shows no signs of slowing down.

She is angling to reach a 20th Grand Slam semi-final aged 36, with tricky Russian Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova on the other side of the net. The pair have met five times before, with Williams, who is yet to drop a set in Melbourne, holding a 3-2 lead in their head-to-head.

"I have played her, I know what to expect," said the American great, whose sister Serena is also in the last eight and plays on Wednesday. "So I can almost already be settled in before I get to that match, so it's a good thing."