Switzerland's Roger Federer in action during his third-round match. Photograph: Jason O'Brien/Action Images

Roger Federer's progress towards the Australian Open title and a 16th grand slam that would take him further away from mere mortals is looking as serene as a Melbourne summer's day – and just as reliable.

Because, even as he surveys his kingdom, he understands there are insurrectionists gathering at the moat. "Definitely I think we have guys now, as they get older, who are going to win bigger tournaments. Before, the group was Del Potro, Murray, Djokovic, and all those guys. They were just coming out of their teens. Now they're all in a good age where normally you either make your move or you definitely have a chance."

The Swiss prince, who all week has looked more regal than his new best friend Prince William, has wavered just once in his opening matches, and will fancy his chances against the willing but slowly fading Lleyton Hewitt in the quarter-finals .

Rafael Nadal, still the second favourite, has looked less convincing. But who would bet against the Spaniard's passion?

"I'm happy I survived a scare against [Igor] Andreev [in the first round]," Federer said. "After that, I was able to come through comfortably in the next two rounds into week two. I feel like I'm obviously fresh and ready to take on the bigger names. So far, it's been great. I'm happy the way I'm feeling. Obviously, you'll elevate your game gradually as the opponents get harder. So I'm happy the way I feel."

Andy Murray provides an informed counterpoint to the Nadal-Federer power axis, as well as a good analysis of where the tournament goes from here. "I haven't played that many slams in comparison to Nadal and Federer, and even Djokovic," he said. "I'm getting there. You learn to start making the right choices at the important stages of the matches. I'm getting better at that now.

"A lot of things change [in the second week]. It gets a lot quieter; it's not as hectic in the locker room. This is where it counts, where you need to play your best tennis and prepare properly for your next match. You need to bring your A-game each day from now; it's something you get better at as you get older."

Murray, whose journey through the tournament was straightforward enough until he was thrown into a final-16 war with the big-serving American John Isner, plainly is among peers now. They fear him as much he once feared them.

Federer, always fair, concedes that the game is now more open than it has been for a long time. "A few guys have already won slams," he said. "That's not an easing thing to do because, I mean, Rafa and myself are still around and making it extremely hard for guys to take home any slams. Over five sets in two weeks, I think we know best how it works.

"But it's an interesting draw again. There's no easy way to a final or to a victory here. You've definitely got to beat some of the best players in the world.

"I obviously loved the time when I was dominating and winning 10 to 12 tournaments a year, and not losing to any top-10 player. Those were fantastic times for me. But, then again, it was also nice going through the time with the incredible rivalry I had with Rafa. You take it as it is and try to make the best of it.

"Today, I think it's a completely different situation I'm still at the top of the rankings and I like to be challenged. That's what makes me better."