Federer overcomes Czech challenge

Venus Williams and Ana Ivanovic thundered into the Australian Open quarter...

Venus Williams and Ana Ivanovic thundered into the Australian Open quarter finals and Roger Federer overcame his second stern test of the tournament to reach the last eight on Monday.

Lleyton Hewitt8217;s tournament hit the buffers, however, Australia8217;s remaining hope skidding out 7-5, 6-3, 6-3 to third seed Novak Djokovic.

While Wimbledon champion Williams and fourth seed Ivanovic made light work of their opposition, world number one Federer was again made to fight hard to defend his title. Pushed to five sets on Saturday, he prevailed 6-4, 7-6, 6-3 against 13th seed Tomas Berdych but did not have things all his own way. Next up for the Swiss is American James Blake who reached his first Grand Slam quarter final outside the United States with a solid 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 victory over Croatia8217;s Marin Cilic.

While Federer put Saturday8217;s epic behind him, Hewitt was unable to bounce back from his five-set third-round thriller.

The former world number one took until 4:33 am on Sunday morning to oust Marcos Baghdatis and failed to rouse himself for the Djokovic challenge.

Serbian Djokovic overcame a nervy start to clinch victory in two hours, 26 minutes and set up a last-eight clash with fifth seed David Ferrer of Spain. 8220;In the first set I was lucky, but then afterwards I relaxed and tried to be aggressive and take control of the match,8221; Djokovic said.

Ferrer beat Juan Carlos Ferrero 7-5, 3-6, 6-4 6-1 to reach the last eight. 8220;I beat Juan Carlos playing very well, it was a very tough match,8221; Ferrer told reporters.

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Djokovic8217;s fellow Serb Ivanovic booked her quarter final with Venus by ousting Caroline Wozniacki 6-1, 7-6. The world number three has not lost a set during the tournament and is relishing the prospect of playing the American.

8220;She8217;s definitely a tough opponent. Last two Grand Slams I lost to her. Exactly the time for some revenge,8221; she smiled.

Williams advanced with a routine 6-4, 6-4 victory over talented Polish qualifier Marta Domachowska.

Agnieszka Radwanska became the first Polish woman to reach a Grand Slam quarter final when she came from a set and 3-0 down to beat an ailing Nadia Petrova.

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Russian 14th seed Petrova led 6-1, 3-0 but a groin strain hampered her movement in the third set and Radwanska stormed back to win 1-6, 7-5, 6-0 and set up a clash with ninth seed Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia.

The 18-year-old Radwanska is the youngest of the eight quarter finalists.

Slovak Hantuchova recovered from a slow start to beat Russian Maria Kirilenko 1-6, 6-4, 6-4.