Rediff

Melbourne, Jan 19: Top seed Roger Federer waltzed into the fourth round of the Australian Open on Friday, brushing aside the challenge of Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-3, 7-6.

Although taken to his first tiebreak of the event, Federer took another largely effortless step towards the defence of his title with victory in two hours and four minutes for his eighth straight win over the 25th-seeded Russian.

Federer, who is yet to lose a set in this year's Melbourne Park bid, sealed the first set with a booming ace only ruled in after he referred it to the Hawk-eye instant replay technology.

The Russian, who upset Rafael Nadal en route to last year's U.S. Open semi-finals, required treatment to his back after the first set but recovered from 0-3 to take the third to a tiebreak on Rod Laver Arena.

The win was his 32nd consecutive victory on tour and he now faces Serbian 14th seed Novak Djokovic for a place in the quarter-finals.