MELBOURNE, Australia — Roger Federer sure didn't want to put in another 4Z\x hours.

So he made fast work of Tomas Berdych 6-4, 7-6 (7), 6-3 Monday to continue his march to a third consecutive Australian Open title and narrow his pursuit of Pete Sampras' record 14 Grand Slam titles.

"It throws off your rhythm a little bit, playing a five-setter," said top-ranked Federer, who barely avoided being an upset victim in the previous round, when he survived a 10-8 final set against Janko Tipsarevic.

"I like this one today better," he said after reaching the quarterfinals. "I'm quite pleased with the result, pulling up from a tough match."

Federer next faces American James Blake, a 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 winner over 19-year-old Croatian Marin Cilic, advancing past the fourth round here for the first time and matching his best Grand Slam showing.

American Venus Williams, the eighth-seeded woman, realizes she needs to get over her slow starts. She had to fight back twice from service breaks in the first set before advancing to the quarters with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Marta Domachowska, a qualifier from Poland.

She next faces No. 4 Ana Ivanovic.