( CNN ) Serena Williams thumped Dominika Cibulkova 6-2 6-2 Wednesday to make it past the quarterfinals at the Australian Open -- and that spells trouble for her rivals who are still in contention at the season 's first major . The world No . 1 has never lost in Melbourne when she 's played a semifinal or final -- going 10-0 -- with her record overall in grand slam semifinals and finals an impressive 40-7 . Further not since the 2011 U.S. Open has the 33-year-old fallen in a grand slam semifinal or final . Those are indeed ominous numbers for her semifinal opponent and fellow American Madison Keys , who prevented an all-Williams encounter in the last four when she edged Venus Williams 6-3 4-6 6-4 . Keys became the third young , surprise semifinalist at the Australian Open in three seasons , joining Eugenie Bouchard and Sloane Stephens . But Serena Williams was n't looking too far ahead just yet . The 18-time grand slam winner was simply happy to advance to the semifinals , having not done so in Melbourne since capturing the title in 2010 . `` It 's finally good to get past the quarterfinals or the fourth round , '' she said . `` I forgot what it 's like for this place , for Melbourne , to look a little empty . Gosh , it 's been so long . '' She progressed over 2014 finalist Cibulkova despite continuing to struggle with a sore throat . `` I 've been sick the past few days , '' she said . `` It 's just getting worse and worse . But hopefully it will start getting better . `` I heard it 's a virus going around with a lot of the players . I think I caught it . '' The 19-year-old Keys will attempt to go one better than Bouchard and Stephens when she takes on Serena in a maiden semifinal at a major . Against Venus Williams , the powerful Keys was n't without her own health issues , calling the trainer for a thigh injury in the second set . She 'll hope the injury gets better -- and fast -- since Keys wo n't have a day off prior to the semis . `` It still hurts , '' said Keys . `` Definitely going to be getting some treatment on that . '' Keys rallied from a break down in the final set against the seven-time grand slam champion , who was competing in her first major quarterfinal in five years . She was helped by her opponent , who committed 38 unforced errors to go along with only 10 winners . In the third set alone , Venus Williams hit three winners and 13 unforced errors . `` This is her moment today , '' said Venus Williams . `` I think it was pretty rare that I was able to string together three or four points without an error . That was unfortunate for me today . But next time I 'll be able to play more solid . `` It 's definitely been a great last like four weeks , I think , '' added Williams , who won a warmup event in Auckland . `` A lot of match wins , a lot of momentum , just a lot of great things happening that everybody wants to happen in their career . `` I think a lot of players would have been happy with this tournament . I 'm happy with progress . I 'm not happy with a loss , I 'll tell you that . '' The other semifinal is an all-Russian affair -- Maria Sharapova challenges Ekaterina Makarova . Wawrinka betters Nishikori . Defending men 's champion Stan Wawrinka continued his fine form , brushing aside Kei Nishikori . When they met at the U.S. Open in the quarterfinals , Nishikori upset Wawrinka in five sets before later making his first grand slam final . But Wednesday 's quarterfinal contest was n't close , with Wawrinka prevailing 6-3 6-4 7-6 ( 6 ) . Wawrinka rallied from a 5-1 deficit in a fourth-set tiebreak in his previous match against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez -- but almost blew a 6-1 lead in the fourth-set tiebreak versus Nishikori . The Japanese baseliner drew level at 6-6 , only to then miss a drop shot into the net when he was controlling the rally . `` That one I was really happy because I was not going to get to that ball , '' Wawrinka told reporters . Wawrinka closed out the match with a big serve . Wawrinka improved to 16-4 in tiebreaks in Melbourne , including 5-0 this year . He 'll next battle world No . 1 Novak Djokovic in the pair 's third meeting in Melbourne in three seasons . The previous two went to five sets . They went five sets at the U.S. Open in 2013 , too . `` We had some crazy matches in the grand slams in the past , '' Wawrinka said . Djokovic , in the last match on Rod Laver Arena , had little trouble defeating big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic 7-6 ( 5 ) 6-4 6-2 . He did n't face a break point . Two-time grand slam winner Andy Murray plays 2010 Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych in the first men 's semifinal Thursday . Berdych upset Rafael Nadal on Wednesday and has yet to drop a set this fortnight .
Serena Williams crushes Dominika Cibulkova at the Australian Open . Williams moves into the semifinals against Madison Keys . TL;DR Novak Djokovic , Stan Wawrinka to face off in men 's semifinals .