Federer and Murray advance to final 16 at Australian Open
Swiss master defeats Australia's Tomic for 250th grand slam victory
Roger Federer claimed a grand slam milestone as he fought off the challenge of rising local star Bernard Tomic to join Andy Murray in the last 16 at the Australian Open yesterday.
The Swiss 17-time major winner and second seed was pushed before clinching a 6-4, 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 victory over the 43rd-ranked Tomic in almost two hours on Rod Laver Arena.
British third seed Murray earlier marched on at the expense of his Lithuanian practice partner Ricardas Berankis, 6-3, 6-4, 7-5, while former US Open champion Juan Martin Del Potro was a shock big-name casualty.
Argentina's sixth seed Del Potro crashed out to Frenchman Jeremy Chardy in five sets.
Federer was stretched at times in a compelling match before becoming the first man to win 250 grand slam matches with his victory over Tomic to reach the fourth round in Melbourne for the 12th straight year.
The world No 2, who is chasing his fifth Australian crown, will now face big-serving Canadian Milos Raonic, the 13th seed, in the round of 16 tomorrow. It was a much-improved performance from 20-year-old Tomic, who lost starry-eyed to Federer 6-2, 6-2, 6-4 in the fourth round at last year's Australian Open.