Summary

  • Murray beats Robert 6-1 6-2 6-7 (6-8) 6-2

  • Briton to face Federer in last eight

  • Federer sees off Tsonga 6-3 7-5 6-4

  • Nadal overcomes Nishikori 7-6 7-5 7-6

  • * denotes next to serve

  1. Postpublished at 11:16 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    So, a vintage performance from Federer sees the sixth seed set up a quarter-final tie with Andy Murray. That heavyweight battle will be played on Wednesday. Thanks, as always, for your company and join us on Tuesday for game-by-game coverage of Novak Djokovic's bout with Stanislas Wawrinka. Don't forget to bring a flask and nibbles because that match could go the distance if previous encounters are an indication of anything. Until then...

  2. Postpublished at 11:07 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    Andy MurrayImage source, AP

    "I had had three match points and put a lot of hard work into that third set but lost concentration and missed a couple of shots," he said. "Losing that set was frustrating because I would have been in the locker-room a lot earlier, so my racquet bit the dust, unfortunately for it."

  3. Postpublished at 11:05 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    Andy Murray has just faced the media and declared himself happy with 95% of his match against Stephane Robert, saying: "I was one point away from being in here after a great performance."

    A quick check of the score on Rod Laver Arena suggested Roger Federer is likely to be his next opponent, still a special experience apparently. "I think it's always going to be because of everything that he's achieved in the game," said Murray.

  4. Postpublished at 11:04 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    "I'm looking forward to playing against Andy," adds Federer as he is asked about his quarter-final clash with Andy Murray. "I hope physically he's doing well. We always have good matches. He has a much better backhand than I have so it's up to me to figure it out."

    Roger FedererImage source, AP
  5. Postpublished at 11:01 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    "It's been a different type of tournament," says Federer. "It's been fun, it's been a good ride. I thought I played really well tonight. You've got to bring your best game [against Tsonga], because he dictates play a lot. I think I did a good job dictating play. Jo does that to you, he makes you play aggressive, because if you don't he will. I thought the tactics worked well tonight. We spoke about it before the match. I don't go to matches unprepared before like I used to."

  6. Postpublished at 10:59 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    Russell Fuller
    BBC tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "That was a demolition, and a very artistic one too. Federer was magnificent. Last year he looked a little bit off the pace, and a bit hurried, but it was completely the opposite tonight. Last year he was hindered by his back but he wanted to prove he can still play the way he used to and you would say he has taken a huge step in that direction."

    Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

  7. GAME, SET AND MATCHpublished at 10:57 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    Ear-splitting whistles and cheers as Federer makes his way to the service line. The Melbourne crowd's heart was with Tsonga until they realised a comeback was beyond the Frenchman. Federer collects three match points, throws in a double fault, before classily concluding the match with a volley from the net.

  8. Postpublished at 10:55 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    Tsonga welcomes the pressure with open arms, acquiring an eighth ace of the match during an easy-peasy hold. Federer, though, merely needs to hold serve and a place in the quarter-finals, against Andy Murray, is his.

  9. Postpublished at 10:52 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    Jo-Wilfried TsongaImage source, AP

    Tsonga's reaction to holding that previous game suggests the Frenchman thinks he's still in business and a dodgy forehand from Federer, which gives Tsonga a 0-30 lead, suggests it's too early to talk about nails in coffins and the like. Federer reins his opponent in to 30-30 but a pumped-up Tsonga fires a winning forehand down the line for his first break point of the match. But it's a puff of the cheeks from Tsonga as he sees his chance whistling by in the wind. The pair slug it out from deuce and advantage before a thumping ace from Federer acts as an angry full stop. Tsonga serving to stay in the match.

  10. Postpublished at 10:46 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    Russell Fuller
    BBC tennis correspondent on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

    "Federer was stumbling against much lesser opponents throughout 2013 but this is the 10th seed and he's playing magnificently. It doesn't look as if there will be sea-change as there was in that Wimbledon semi-final. It's another Federer royal-command performance. He's moving so well, looking so agile and so eager and taking everything in his stride."

    Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra

  11. Postpublished at 10:46 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    Tsonga drags Federer in with a delicate drop shot, but the sixth seed sprints forward and reaches it and, despite Tsonga's finest efforts at the net, it's Federer who comes out of that particular tango at the tape and comes away with three break points. Tsonga gives out a bear-like roar of frustration. He saves two break points, but can he make it a hat-trick?

    The crowd urging the Frenchman on. A backhand return down the line from Federer bounces wide and we're into deuce. The Swiss is fallible after all. Tsonga digs deep into his reserves of energy and comes out with an ace to the wings. From advantage to deuce to advantage again before a bulldozing forehand winner down the line sees Tsonga through. The Frenchman jogs to his chair, brow furrowed, adrenaline oozing through his veins, and throws his racquet on his bag.

  12. Postpublished at 10:39 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    Federer's serve working as finely as his country's clocks. A sixth ace of the match form the Swiss has him skipping 30-0 ahead and Tsonga is unable to win a point on the Federer serve. Another crackerjack of a serve, out wide this time, and it's a hold to love for the irrepressible sixth seed.

  13. Postpublished at 10:37 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    A number of spectators cheering every Tsonga point, hoping the Frenchman can prolong this match. He responds with a whopping serve down the 'T' followed by a rip-roaring ace down the middle.

  14. Postpublished at 10:34 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    Jo-Wilfried TsongaImage source, Reuters

    Tsonga's mind is elsewhere, it's as if someone upstairs has switched off the lights. The Swiss calling the shots, pulling Tsonga around the court, and a regulation hold to 15 allows Federer to consolidate his advantage.

  15. Federer breakspublished at 10:31 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    Federer has Tsonga in a vice-like grip and a forlorn Tsonga crumbling like a freshly baked cookie. An overhead winner from Federer - 0-15. Tsonga overcooks a forehand - 0-30. Tsonga then nets - 0-40. Three break points. Tsonga not coping with the pressure and he tamely nets a sliced backhand to meekly surrender.

  16. Postpublished at 10:27 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    Winners flying from Federer's strings as he smoothly proceeds to 30-0. Tsonga nicks a point before a sloppy return followed by a wayward backhand allows Federer to hold to 15.

  17. Postpublished at 10:26 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    Those will long(ish) memories will remember that Tsonga fought back from two sets down against Federer at Wimbledon back in 2011 to earn a spot in the semi-final. I suppose the question many are asking is whether the 32-year-old can maintain this sort of form. If Federer were to suffer a dip Tsonga would, you sense, take advantage because the Frenchman is not playing poorly. A booming serve towards the Federer ribcage sees the first game go Tsonga's way.

  18. Postpublished at 10:23 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    David Law
    BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

    "Federer has been sensational. We all thought he was on the downhill slope of his career. He's in his 30s, has been caught up by others, he's only the sixth seed but he's playing like world number one in the universe at the moment."

  19. GAME AND SECOND SETpublished at 10:20 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    Green lights all the way for Federer. A sumptuous backhand lob from the opening point has the crowd purring. He quickly collects three set points and secures the second set with an ace down the middle.

  20. Postpublished at 10:18 Greenwich Mean Time 20 January 2014

    David Law
    BBC Radio 5 live sports extra commentator

    "Tsonga needs to find ways to wrestle the control off Federer and the only way he can do that is to hit deep and powerful shots time after time. But it's so hard to do that consistently, especially when Federer doesn't give you the time to settle into shots."

    Listen to live commentary on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra