Roger Federer’s march towards a first grand slam title in five years has continued at the Australian Open with a come-from-behind five-set defeat of Kei Nishikori.

The world No.17 warmed into the contest and overcame the hard-running Japanese, who was affected by a hip problem in the decisive set, with a 6-7 (4-7) 6-4 6-1 4-6 6-3 win on Sunday night in three hours and 23 minutes.

His reward is a quarter-final against German Mischa Zverev, who beat top seed Andy Murray to earn a place in the last eight.