Top seed Roger Federer waltzed into the fourth round, 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 win was his 32nd consecutive victory on tour and he now faces Serbian 14th seed Novak Djokovic for a place in the quarter-finals.
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