Melbourne, Australia -- (Sports Network) - Defending champion Roger Federer advanced to the final of the Australian Open on Thursday after easily defeating Andy Roddick in a blockbuster semifinal.

The top-seeded and current world No. 1 Federer had little trouble with the sixth-seeded Roddick, as the mighty Swiss breezed past the American, 6-4, 6-0, 6-2, in the first-ever meeting between the two in the Australian Open.

The victory propelled Federer into his seventh straight Grand Slam final.

Federer dominated from the start and at one point in the first set won 11 games in a row. Federer also served 10 aces, had 45 winners and just 12 unforced errors. The match lasted just one hour and 23 minutes.

Federer, who appeared in an Open Era-record 11th straight Grand Slam semi, has now won the last eight encounters over Roddick, including six finals, and is a perfect 5-0 versus the American in Grand Slam play. Federer holds a 13-1 advantage overall.

Roddick came into the matchup with some hope on his side after beating Federer in an exhibition final at Kooyong here in Melbourne two weeks ago, but that was not an official circuit match. Roddick's last official victory in the series came four years ago in Montreal.

Federer also improved to 3-1 all-time in Aussie Open semis, while Roddick dropped to 0-3.

The other men's semifinal will be staged here on Friday, when 10th-seeded Chilean Fernando Gonzalez takes on 12th-seeded German Tommy Haas. The lucrative final will be held here on Sunday night.