• Australian Open

Defending champion Wawrinka through as Ferrer survives

Stanislas Wawrinka will face Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the fourth round © Getty Images

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Defending champion Stan Wawrinka enjoyed a 6-4 6-2 6-4 win over Jarkko Nieminen to reach the Australian Open fourth round and will be joined by David Ferrer, who survived a thrilling four-setter against Gilles Simon.

Warwinka won his first career grand slam singles title last year at Melbourne Park, beating Rafael Nadal in the final. Later in the year, he and Roger Federer led Switzerland to its first Davis Cup triumph.

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"I'm feeling good since the beginning of the tournament," Wawrinka said. "For sure I'm not the focus on the tournament because there's Novak, Rafa [Nadal] coming back from injury, Roger [Federer] also just lost, there's [Nick] Kyrgios, [Bernard] Tomic still playing.

"For sure I'm not the focus. For me doesn't matter. I'm feeling good. I'm feeling great. I'm happy the way I'm playing. To get to the second week again, it's great. So far everything is good for me."

In the fourth round, Warwinka will have a score to settle against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez, who had a 6-2 6-4 6-4 win over Vasek Pospisil. Wawrinka lost to Garcia-Lopez in the first round of the French Open last year, making him the first first-time major winner in 12 years to lose in the first round of his next grand slam event.

Ferrer, the ninth seed, had to battle against a stubborn Simon but the Spaniard eventually prevailed with a 6-2 7-5 5-7 7-6(4) victory after three-and-a-half hours on court.

Eighth-seeded Milos Raonic reached the fourth round at a fourth consecutive grand slam tournament when he beat Benjamin Becker of Germany 6-4 6-3 6-3.

The 24-year-old Raonic fired 22 aces to advance to a match Monday against No.12 Feliciano Lopez, who had a 7-6(6) 6-4 7-6(3) win against Jerzy Janowicz.

Lopez said: "It gives you the chance. It gives you the opportunity to play today because I was already out with Mannarino and Kudla in the first round, no?

"Today when I was out there playing, I thought I have to be pleased for that opportunity, so try your best. I think today finally I play some of my best tennis. Losing with Kudla or Mannarino I wouldn't have the chance, so I feel very pleased.

"It's true I have a couple of tough matches. Today was also a tough one, but it was straight sets, which is really good for my fitness condition. I feel good. I feel ready to play the rest of the week."

Raonic became the first Canadian player to reach a grand slam semi-final at Wimbledon last year after making it to the quarter-finals at the French Open. He also advanced to the fourth round at the US Open.

He warmed up for this year's Australian Open by making it to the Brisbane International final, losing to Federer.

US Open finalist Kei Nishikori had to come from a set down to beat Steve Johnson 6-7(7) 6-1 6-2 6-3 while 19th seed John Isner suffered a shock 7-6(4) 7-6(6) 6-4 exit to Luxembourg's Gilles Muller.

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