AUSTRALIAN OPEN DAY 7 Mens Fourth Round Preview

“I don’t think there is any miracles waiting”, Berdych said.

Federer, however, repeated his assertion that making the top-10 and staying there was a real battle for any of the next generation of players.

Although Federer’s three-set victory did not end until after midnight, the 77-year-old Australian legend, known as “Rocket”, was in the president’s box taking it all in.

Roger Federer is constantly trying to teach his children about life, but this time it was his kids dishing out the tips.

Tomic, the highest ranked Australian at 17, took umbrage at the remarks and then told reporters at Melbourne Park that as far as he was concerned Federer was “nowhere near” the level of world number one Novak Djokovic.

The third set once again saw Federer take an early break with a crosscourt forehand victor. But I don’t check the rankings every day. For the first time, he was pushed further to play the fourth set, but before it, he broke Dimitrov twice.

Djokovic lost in the quarterfinals to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in 2010, then won the tournament in 2011, 2012 and 2013.

The only previous Grand Slam meeting between the pair was at the French Open back in 2012, which Federer won in four sets.

He continued to dominate on his own serve, winning more than 90 per cent of his first service points for much of the match before it dropped off in the final few games, though he was still able to seal victory in just 88 minutes. It’s not as easy as you think it is, but I’ll try’.

Williams faced her biggest threat in the first set of her contest against Sharapova, who had placed her hopes of ending a 12-year losing streak against the world number one on a rejuvenated serve.

He will play the victor of the match between Novak Djokovic and Kei Nishikori.

Tomas Berdych has outlasted Roberto Bautista Agut in five sets to reach the quarterfinals at Melbourne Park for the sixth consecutive year.

In the women’s section, Serena Williams served up a glamour Australian Open quarter-final against arch-rival Maria Sharapova yesterday as she looks to extend her iron grip over the Russian star. I was like, ‘Which one?’ ‘The one where you look the one way and play the other way.’ So they have given me advice, if you like, yeah. “I still have to win two matches against potentially two extremely tough opponents”.

“I’m pleased with how I played”, said Federer.

Djokovic is still in the race for the title and if he meets Federer in the final, the match will be of historic significance as Federer will either win his fifth title or Djokovic will match Emerson as the only other man to win six titles.

“It’s part of the reason why I guess I’m still playing”.

Williams, who fell agonisingly short of a calendar-year Grand Slam last season, has felt her way into the tournament as she seeks a record-equalling 22nd major title.