Roger Federer closes on 1,000th career win after Brisbane victory

Roger Federer needed just 53 minutes to beat Grigor Dimitrov 6-2 6-2 in the Brisbane International semi-finals

Top seed Roger Federer moved to within one win of his 1,000th career victory as he beat Grigor Dimitrov to reach the Brisbane International final.

The 33-year-old beat the Bulgarian 6-2 6-2 in 53 minutes to set up a final with Canadian Milos Raonic on Sunday.

Raonic, 24, beat Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-7 (4-7) 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (7-4).

If Swiss Federer goes on to win his 83rd career title, he will become the third man, after Jimmy Connors and Ivan Lendl, to secure 1,000 ATP wins.

Players are using the Brisbane tournament as a warm up for the first Grand Slam of the season - the Australian Open, which starts on 19 January.

Federer, the world number two, broke Dimitrov in the opening game and then three more times as he completed a comfortable victory on Pat Rafter Arena.

It followed an impressive 39-minute victory over Australian qualifier James Duckworth in the previous round.

In the women's final, top seed Maria Sharapova came from a set down to beat Ana Ivanovic.

The Russian fought back to seal a 6-7 (4/7) 6-3 6-3 victory over the second seed from Serbia.

Elsewhere, former world number one Venus Williams recovered from a set and a break down to beat top seed Caroline Wozniacki 2-6 6-3 6-3 in the final of the ASB Classic in Auckland, New Zealand.