MELBOURNE, Australia — Rafael Nadal took revenge for a loss earlier this month to Milos Raonic as he rolled 6-4, 7-6 (7), 6-4 in a baseline battle Wednesday at the Australian Open to reach the semifinals.

Nadal, who lost to Raonic in Brisbane, moved a step closer to a potential final with Roger Federer — an old-school duel that has organizers licking their lips in anticipation.

But next for Nadal will be a stern test with young gun Grigor Dimitrov, who earned his semifinal spot with a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 win against 11th seed David Goffin.

Nadal, who won the event in 2009 and lost finals in 2012 and 2014, will be competing in his 24th Grand Slam semi after winning a match lasting almost three hours.

Nadal improved his record against Raonic to 7-2 after losing two of the last three matches in the series.

“I had a lot of tough moments ... I'm enjoying my good moments,” Nadal said after his 50th win in Melbourne. “I was fighting and believing. That's how I've worked my entire career.

“Raonic's a difficult opponent. There were tough moments in the match. I was focused and concentrated with my serve. I always have doubts, but that makes you even more ready to work hard.”

In the women's quarters, Mirjana Lucic-Baroni turned back the clock almost two decades as she upset fifth seed Karolina Pliskova 6-4, 3-6, 6-4.

The 34-year-old Lucic-Baroni, who reached the Wimbledon semifinals as a teenager in 1999, was shocked by her unexpected accomplishment while playing through pain.

“I was just really thankful that I was able to do this today, that I was able to finish my match. I was really worried. I didn't know if I had it in me to finish it,” she said.

Lucic-Baroni will now face six-time champion Serena Williams, who beat Johanna Konta 6-2, 6-3.

“It will be tough, but I will do my best to recover, try to keep calm and enjoy every second out here,” Lucic-Baroni said.