Federer has not dropped a set so far in the 2018 tournament, dispatching Aljaz Bedene, Jan-Lennard Struff, Richard Gasquet and Marton Fucsovics without any undue effort.

The Swiss was always likely to be tested by Berdych, although the Czech was on an eight-match losing streak against Federer that stretches back to 2013, and found himself down early in the first.

But he broke back at the crucial moment before forcing a tie-break which he dominated, and never looked back after that, closing out the match in two hours, 18 minutes

Express Sport brought you all the action from Melbourne and here's how it unfolded.

Roger Federer vs Tomas Berdych RECAP

Roger Federer beats Tomas Berdych 7-6, 6-3, 6-4

10.58am: Federer will play Hyeon Chung, who has in Roger's words "nothing to lose", on Friday at 8.30am UK time. We'll be back here for that!

10.51am: Federer looks as unflustered as he always does, laughing and joking with Jim Courier on court, especially about that dodgy first set and his argument with umpire Fergus Murphy.

“I hung around, got a bit lucky, a bit angry, a bit frustrated maybe at the umpire. I actually thought the call was good anyway, probably taking the call away was right!" Federer says.

"I’m very happy I got out of that first set. I think it was the key to the match."

10.48am: He holds to love to WIN and complete his 10th quarter-final win at the Australian Open - he's never lost in the last eight. He'll play Hyeon Chung next on Friday at 8.30am.

10.41am: The end is nigh for Berdych. He is serving to stay in the match.

10.32am: Federer has broken him again you know...

10.30am: Ding. Dong. If Berdych is injured, he's doing just fine with it. Federer breaks but Berdych immediately breaks back, picking the wide serve very early and firing the return at the Swiss' feet. As you were in the third.

10.15am: Berdych is back out and holds but is moving a little gingerly. The serve does not have much pop in it either. We'll see how long this goes on...

10.10am: Berdych has called the physio and is now off court receiving treatment. He would only be going off court if it were an injury somewhere private, so we assume some sort of groin strain. He did wince a couple of times in that second set.

10.05am: Federer takes the second set, holding to 15. In the space of 40 minutes, Berdych has gone from serving for the first set to finding himself all but out of the tournament.

10.03am: Federer breaks and will serve for the set! The Swiss just stepped up a gear in that game and Berdych, as so often in second week of Grand Slams, had little with which to respond.

10am: Might be heading for another tie-break here. Both players beginning to hit their rhythm on serve - even though Federer is still making the odd uncharacteristic miss.

9.45am: Federer is still not serving as we know he can, but that forehand is starting to fire. He has to save another break point in the third game but fires himself up when a series of fine groundstrokes gets him out of trouble.

9.30am: Something, something, winning ugly. Sign of a champion? Sign of THE champion, if you ask me. After a pretty ordinary set by his standards, Federer immediately earns the mini-break with a beaut of passing shot and makes it two a few seconds later with some powerful baseline hitting. He takes a 5-1 lead into the change of ends.

He has five set points and converts the very first with a sumptuous drop shot. Remarkable.

9.25am: This is unreal. Federer has looked a million dollars until now and he looks about $12.50 today. Two double-faults in the game hand Berdych a second set point, although he does find some excellent defence to save it.

He finally holds, after missing a simple forehand at game point previously. We're going to a tie-break.

9.10am: Controversy! Federer forces two break points, his first of the match, but Berdych finds a big serve. Federer challenges but Hawkeye appears not to work - the umpire tells the players the call was good, even though the system can't display the graphic.

Federer gets into an argument with the umpire about it, pretty needlessly, and loses the next point as well. He forces one more break point from deuce that he can't take, and then saves a set point with a killer backhand return.

Seconds later, he plays a wonderfully aggressive point to get a fourth chance to break back - and he does! Federer is awake at last.

9am: Federer produces his most convincing hold of the match, doing so to 15, but he has yet to make an indent on the Berdych serve, which he will have to do if he is to avoid dropping this first set.

8.55am: Rod Laver Arena is in shock. Federer is playing like a drain. Two double-faults already, a first serve percentage of just 59 and he's only won one point on second serve. He misses an easy volley at 15-30 on the Berdych serve too. That was an opportunity he has missed by a distance.

8.40am: Right, we're up and running on Rod Laver Arena. Federer is a little bit grumpy so far because he's lost a couple of points, ever the perfectionist, and has to save a break point early on. Berdych then batters a backhand return when down advantage and when the Swiss nets a forehand, there is a second break point - which he converts! That wasn't in the script.

8.30am: Berdych has won the toss and will serve. Bit rare that these days - most players like to receive first.

8.15am: “Rafael Nadal is out. Surely this is Roger Federer’s to lose?” I hear you cry.

You’re not wrong, reader. You’re not wrong.

Federer, already an overwhelming favourite for the title, now has to beat Berdych, unseeded Hyeon Chung and either Kyle Edmund or Marin Cilic to retain his Australian crown.

Simples, right?

Well, we’ll see just how simple in about 15 minutes when Federer and Berdych take to the court.