Robin Soderling's [ Images ] smooth buildup to this month's Australian Open [ Images ] continued with a business-like 6-3, 6-2 victory over local qualifier Matt Ebden in their Brisbane [ Images ] International quarter-final on Friday.

The Swedish world number five broke his 196th-ranked opponent once in the first set and twice in the second before sealing the 71-minute match with an ace.

"I've been serving really well all week. I haven't been broken yet and today especially I managed to serve really well when it really matters," said twice French Open [ Images ] finalist Soderling, who has not dropped a set in the tournament.

"I still know that I can play better. I've played three pretty solid matches so it feels good coming into tomorrow's semi-final."

Soderling will meet last year's finalist and 2009 champion Radek Stepanek in the semi-finals, after the Czech 32-year-old upset seventh-seeded German Florian Mayer 6-3, 6-3.

"I've played against Radek many times and we've always had tough matches so I have to stay focussed on this one," Soderling added.

Defending champion Andy Roddick [ Images ] will contest the other semi-final in a big-serving shootout with towering South African Kevin Anderson.

In the women's semi-final, Germany's [ Images ] Andrea Petkovic stunned former Wimbledon [ Images ] finalist Marion Bartoli [ Images ] of France [ Images ] 6-4, 6-2 in 77 minutes.

Trailing 4-1 in the first set, Petkovic won five games on the trot and did not take her foot off the pedal in the second set either.

She meets Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova [ Images ] in the final after the Russian beat Petra Kvitova [ Images ] 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 in the second semi-final.