Hendry started slowly at the Portomaso Hilton Conference Centre

Hendry, seeking to capture his first world ranking title in two years, took only 82 minutes to see off Robertson and set up a meeting with Ali Carter.

Defending champion Ken Doherty earned a hard fought 5-2 victory over little-known Andrew Higginson.

And Welshman Ryan Day equalled his best run in a ranking event by edging former British Open champion Fergal O'Brien.

Day led 4-2 before O'Brien rallied to 4-4 with runs of 65 and 101, but a missed red allowed Day in with a 55.

The world number 17 will now play Mark King, who prevailed 5-4 over Michael Holt, who had fought back from 4-1 down only to miscue on the final blue in the decider.

It will be only Day's third ranking quarter-final, but his second of the season after the Northern Ireland Trophy.

Higginson, making his television debut, took a 2-1 lead against Doherty before the Irishman fought back to win five frames on the bounce.

Doherty said afterwards: "I'm not going to let the title go easily.

"I've always built myself up to try and win every tournament, but there are certain venues and places where you feel more relaxed and this is one."

Doherty goes through to play UK champion Peter Ebdon, who beat Stephen Maguire 5-2.

Working a lot on your game does help you feel better at the table Stephen Hendry

Ebdon produced breaks of 96, 59 and a decisive 89 clearance, while also getting under Maguire's skin by adopting his usual methodical, measured approach.

Australian Robertson squandered numerous chances to snatch early frames against Hendry, who admitted the scoreline was flattering.

"The first three frames could have all been stolen by Neil," he said.

It was only in the fourth frame that Hendry found the kind of fluency that brought him a quartet of century breaks in drubbing Robertson 5-1 in the last 32 of the same tournament last season.

The Scot fired in a classy run of 120 to lead 4-0 and quickly completed only the third whitewash of Robertson's career.

Hendry believes his decision last November to spend longer on the practice table is paying dividends.