Deadly Djokovic Ends Aussie Hopes

One late night too many caught up with Lleyton Hewitt as he crashed out of the Australian Open 7-5,6-3,6-3 to third seed Novak Djokovic. Hewitt's five-set epic with Marcos Baghdatis had not finished until 4.33am on Sunday morning and he was always behind the pace against an in-form Djokovic.

Roger Federer had staved off sleep to see some of Hewitt's marathon with Baghdatis but the defending champion showed few signs of tiredness as he beat No13 seed Thomas Berdych in straight sets 6-4, 7-6 (9-7), 6-3.

Federer did lag slightly in the second set when Berdych held two set points. "He was playing better [than me] in the second set, honestly," said Federer. "He got an early lead, then played well in the breaker. In the end, maybe he made a wrong shot selection. It's unfortunate for him, but jeez, it's good for me to win in straight sets."

Federer had looked imperious in the first set, dropping just four points on his own serve, and after his scare in the second was again dominant in the third as he broke Berdych to love in the sixth game before serving out the match in complete control.

The Swiss will play James Blake in the last eight after the American beat 19-year-old Marian Cilic 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. It was a particularly satisfying win for Blake, who had previously failed to reach a grand slam quarter-final outside the US Open.

Blake's has failed to beat Federer in their seven previous meetings, but says he has been given hope by Janko Tipsarevic, who took the defending champion to five sets earlier in the tournament. "It just shows that there are enough guys out there that on their best day can give him trouble," said Blake. "It hopefully can raise my spirits to know that I can do the same but I've always felt that. Every time I've stepped out on the court with him I've felt if I play my best, I give myself a shot."

Also through to his first Australian Open quarter-final is David Ferrer who beat fellow Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-1.

Men's results, fourth round:

(1) Roger Federer (Swi) bt (13) Tomas Berdych (Cze) 6-4, 7-6 (9-7), 6-3 (12) James Blake (USA) bt Marin Cilic (Cro) 6-3, 6-4, 6-4