Federer advances after losing only two games in Brisbane quarters

BRISBANE, Australia, Jan. 3 (UPI) -- Top-seeded Roger Federer dropped just two games Friday in posting a quarterfinal win at the Brisbane International tennis tournament.

Federer raced past Marinko Matosevic 6-1, 6-1 in 57 minutes. Matosevic managed three break chances but Federer saved them all en route to taking nearly three-quarters of the points on serve.

Federer had nine aces and took 21-of-25 points when his first serve was good.

No. 2-seeded Kei Nishikori came away a 6-4, 5-7, 6-2 winner over Marin Cilic. Both players had 15 break chances but Nishikori allowed Cilic to win only one while finishing off three himself.

Also in the quarterfinals, eighth-seeded Jeremy Chardy topped Samuel Groth 7-5, 6-4 and Australian tennis hero Lleyton Hewitt took out qualifier Marius Copil 6-4, 6-2.

Federer goes against Chardy in the semifinals Saturday in their first career meeting. Hewitt takes on Nishikori, a player he beat in four sets in an early round at the 2011 Wimbledon Championships in their only previous match.