Federer's Royal Command performance in Melbourne

Roger Federer turned on a royal performance to sweep majestically into the Australian Open third round, where he was joined by Novak Djokovic and Nikolay Davydenko on Thursday.

Watched by Britain's Prince William in the official box, the world number one was in imperious touch, rifling through Romanian Victor Hanescu in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3, 6-2, in a breezy one hour 39 minutes.

Federer, bidding for his 16th Grand Slam title and fourth Australian Open, will now take on Spanish 31st-seed Albert Montanes in the next round.

Elsewhere on day four, former champion Djokovic overcame an early stumble to get past dogged Swiss Marco Chiudinelli, while sixth seeded Davydenko disposed of Ukrainian qualifier Illya Marchenko.

"I'm used to it because I play a lot of primetime matches where there are very important people watching," Federer said of playing before Prince William.

"This one tonight was obviously extremely special. It's a pleasure, of course, playing in front of him."

Federer was in blinding touch on Rod Laver Arena. He broke Hanescu's serve five times and didn't drop his own, while hitting 52 winners, 28 of them with the forehand. Federer dominated the match points 96 to 64.

Hanescu has still to take a set off Federer in their four meetings as the Swiss legend stepped up a gear after his muddling opening round performance against Russian Igor Andreev.

Federer is on track to face either former finalists, Lleyton Hewitt or Marcos Baghdatis, in the fourth round and a potential quarter-final with Davydenko.

Djokovic, the Serbian third seed, needed four sets and almost three hours to wear down the world number 58 Chiudinelli, 3-6, 6-1, 6-1, 6-3.

He dropped the opening set but eventually dominated Chiudinelli to set up a third round encounter with Uzbekistan's Denis Istomin.

Djokovic has painful memories of his ill-fated Australian Open title defence last year when he retired during his quarter-final with Andy Roddick through cramping and heat fatigue.

"There are some things that I obviously have to improve in order to play better," Djokovic said.

"But the opening rounds, especially at Australian Open, are tricky and where a lot of surprises happen.

"I kind of feel that little pressure. This is what I felt a little today."

Davydenko, who has yet to win a Grand Slam title and has never been in a final, crushed Marchenko 6-3, 6-3, 6-0.

In his two matches in the tournament, he has dropped just 10 games, and is enjoying an 11-match winning streak.

"I never think I am favourite for any tournament," he said.

"I know I'm very good player and if I feel good, I for sure can beat everyone. It's only four days here."

Spanish ninth seed Fernando Verdasco stormed through with a 6-1, 6-2, 6-2 win over Ukrainian Ivan Sergeyev and French 10th seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga brushed aside American Taylor Dent 6-4, 6-3, 6-3.

Hewitt set up an enticing third round rematch with Baghdatis after a straight sets win over American Donald Young.

Unseeded Baghdatis slogged out a 4-6, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-3, 6-1 win over Spanish 17th seed David Ferrer.

Hewitt's meeting with Baghdatis revives memories of their epic third round encounter at the 2008 tournament.

That game started just before midnight and ran for four hours 43 minutes to be the latest finish in Open history.

Hewitt prevailed 4-6, 7-5, 7-5, 6-7 (7/4), 6-3 but was a spent force for his next match against eventual champion Djokovic.