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Swiss superstar Roger Federer equalled Jimmy Connors' record of 27 consecutive Grand Slam quarter-final appearances on Sunday afternoon after he beat Tommy Robredo of Spain 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 at the Australian Open.

The second seed and defending champion did not drop a point on serve in the 32-minute first set, but uncharacteristic unforced errors cost Federer the second set. But the 2004, 2006-07, 2010 titlist raised his game on a sun-baked Rod Laver Arena and completed his 10th straight win over Robredo in two hours and 25 minutes.

"I'm happy I'm still alive and going strong in the tournament," said Federer. "It's a tough match. I knew Robredo was going to come out and hit a lot loopy shots and make me earn it. He wasn't going to just give it to me.

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"I thought he was really able to play strong midway through the second set. I really had not many chances on his own serve, like he didn't have on my serve in the first set. But I found a way. I was able to play a bit more aggressive and sort of not make some stupid mistakes I did at the end of second set, which really cost me the set, I thought."

Federer hit 10 aces and 50 winners, but committed 40 unforced errors - 19 more than Robredo. But the World No. 2 doesn't mind. "I don't care about unforced errors," said Federer. "I don't care if I make 20 or 60 unforced errors, I don't care. As long as I'm doing the right things and staying true to my game plan and it makes sense."

Former quarter-finalist Robredo, who won 20 of 41 points on second serve, admitted, "Being there and winning the second set is great. Then in the third, I had chances to break him in the beginning. He broke me, and then I had chances to win these games again. If you make these mistakes with Federer, then it's normal that he gets the third set, and then it's very difficult to stop him. I'm happy [with] the way I performed."

Federer will next meet his compatriot and good friend Stanislas Wawrinka in the first all-Swiss major quarter-final of the Open Era. Federer leads 6-1 overall.

Wawrinka, who is coached by Federer's former trainer Peter Lundgren, knocked out eighth-seeded American Andy Roddick 6-3, 6-4, 6-4 in two hours and 22 minutes in the late-night match on Melbourne Park's main show court. It extended his winning streak to nine matches.

Wawrinka hit an astonishing 24 aces and 67 winners, winning 36 of 39 points on first serve to reach the quarter-finals of a major championship for the second time. In September last year, the 25 year old lost to Mikhail Youzhny at the US Open.

"[It is] one of my best [wins], for sure," said Wawrinka. "To beat Roddick in three sets, it's really good for me. I'm very happy with all my game. I was playing great and I felt I put a lot of pressure on him."

Under-par Roddick, who committed 19 unforced errors, won just 22 per cent of points on return of serve. The Nebraskan was a semi-finalist in 2003, 2005, 2007 and 2009. "[I] could have served better," said Roddick. "I didn't serve that well tonight. But he played great. He played really well. He played aggressive and he outplayed me tonight."

Wawrinka lifted his third ATP World Tour title at the Aircel Chennai Open (d. Malisse) in the first week of the 2011 ATP World Tour season. Roddick finished runner-up to Robin Soderling at the recent Brisbane International.

"I've [been] playing good since beginning of the year," said Wawrinka. "I have a lot of confidence with winning in the first tournament of the year in Chennai. I [have] practised a lot the last two months and everything is going well."