Four-time Australian Open runner-up Andy Murray was made to work hard by Bernard Tomic before wrapping up a straight-sets triumph to reach the quarter-finals in Melbourne.

Murray was far from his best, but the second seed did enough to see off the last Australian hope 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-4) on Monday.

The two-time grand slam champion, who has never lost to an Australian in 17 ATP Tour matches, will face Spanish eighth David Ferrer for a spot in the semi-finals.

Murray stormed out of the blocks on Rod Laver Arena, breaking in the first game before consolidating for a 2-0 lead.

However, Murray was not without his moments of concern, particularly in that second game, when he complained to the chair umpire about the video screen.

Tomic capitalised as Murray seemingly lost his focus, levelling proceedings at 2-2 only for the latter to win the next three games.

Murray - who was agitated for most of the opener, yelling at someone in his box to get off their phone - was unable to serve out the set at the first time of asking, but he closed it out two games later.

While he took the opening set, Murray was not overly convincing and that theme continued in the second as he exchanged breaks with Tomic in the first three games.

But Murray was the first player to hold serve and earn a 3-1 advantage, a buffer he never relinquished after sealing the final game of the set to love with an ace.

Just as Murray, who boasted a 131-1 win-loss record when claiming the opening two sets, looked all but set to wrap the match in a timely manner, Tomic forced a fourth set tie-break, though it only delayed the inevitable.

STATISTICAL BREAKDOWN

Murray [2] bt Tomic [16] 6-4 6-4 7-6 (7-4)

ACES

Murray - 18

Tomic - 10

WINNERS/UNFORCED ERRORS

Murray - 43/22

Tomic - 33/56

BREAK POINTS WON

Murray - 6/13

Tomic - 4/9

FIRST SERVE PERCENTAGE

Murray - 57

Tomic - 65

PERCENTAGE OF POINTS WON ON FIRST/SECOND SERVE

Murray - 73/57

Tomic - 62/33

TOTAL POINTS

Murray - 122

Tomic - 95