Australian Open: Novak Djokovic survives Gilles Simon scare

Novak sets up clash with Nishikori, Federer faces Berdych in quarter-finals

Novak Djokovic dished up 100 unforced errors in a five-set struggle with Gilles Simon on Sunday as Roger Federer roared into the Australian Open quarter-finals with ruthless efficiency.

After the top seed’s “match to forget”, Federer looked in a hurry to brush off David Goffin when they came on court just before 11:00 pm — and he duly thrashed the Belgian 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 in 88 minutes.

There was a big contrast between defending champion Djokovic, who is going for a record-equalling sixth Australian Open title, and the 34-year-old Federer, who hasn’t won in Melbourne since 2010.

While Simon patiently pushed and prodded Djokovic during his 6-3, 6-7 (1/7), 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 win, Goffin couldn’t lay a glove on Federer as the clockwork Swiss purred through.

But both are safely into the quarter-finals, with Djokovic facing Kei Nishikori in his 27th consecutive Grand Slam last-eight clash and Federer up against Tomas Berdych.

Berdych also had to come through a marathon five-setter as he outlasted Spain’s Roberto Bautista Agut 4-6, 6-4, 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 to reach the last eight for the sixth year in a row.

Earlier Nishikori produced his best tennis of the tournament to breeze past former finalist Tsonga 6-4, 6-2, 6-4 in just over two hours.

Serena serves up glamour clash with Sharapova Serena Williams served up a glamour quarter-final against arch-rival Maria Sharapova as she looks to extend her iron grip over the Russian star.

The world number one and defending champion smacked down Margarita Gasparyan 6-2, 6-1 in just 55 minutes to ensure the mouth-watering showdown.

She now has another chance to finally get the monkey off her back after coming through a 7-5, 7-5 thriller against fast-rising Swiss teen Belinda Bencic.

Polish fourth seed Agnieszka Radwanska will face Spain’s 10th seed Carla Suarez in the other quarter-final on Tuesday after both players came through testing three-setters.

Radwanska was pushed to the limit by unseeded Anna-Lena Friedsam, winning 6-7 (6/8), 6-1, 7-5 with the German, who struggled with injury and cramp, leaving the court in tears.

Paes, Bopanna advance in mixed doubles It was a good day at office for India’s mixed doubles pairs as Leander Paes and Rohan Bopanna advanced to the second round with their respective partners.

Paes and Martina Hingis of Switzerland posted a 6-3, 7-5 win over Anastasia Pavlyu-chenkova and Dominic Inglot while third seeded Bopanna and Yung-Jan Chan of Chinese Taipei hardly broke a sweat before prevailing over the Australian pair of John Millman and Kimberly Birrell, 7-5, 6-1 in 48 minutes.

However, Bopanna along with Romanian Florin Mergea crashed out of the men’s doubles event after they were handed a 4-6, 3-6 defeat by 14th seeded duo of Treat Huey and Max Mirnyi.