Federer buries Berdych Games hoodoo with win over Czech

Aug 13, 2008, 13:41 GMT

Beijing - Reviving Roger Federer buried an Olympic demon from four years ago on Wednesday with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-4) defeat of Czech Tomas Berdych to reach the quarter-finals at the Beijing Games.

In Athens, the young Czech ended Federer's medal dream as he beat the number one in the second round.

This time, there was not chance of an upset with Federer storming through for the third consecutive a day in straight sets.

Federer, losing finalist to Rafael Nadal at both Paris and Wimbledon, is counting on the Games to help him lift back to championship level after claiming just two minor titles so far this season.

Nadal, taking over the top ATP ranking from Federer on Monday, and world number three Novak Djokovic followed suit with convincing wins.

Nadal made a statement 6-4, 6-2 over Igor Andreev while Serb Djokovic defeated Mikhail Youzhny 7-6 (7-3), 6-3.

The pair of wins from the seeds eliminated the last Russian from the field as Marat Safin quit a match halfway around the world in Washington with a neck problem.

'I'm nearing my best level,' said Nadal after losing his only set of the week on Monday against Italian Potito Starace. 'I have a good feeling on court, I'm going out there and just trying to play me best all the time.'

In women's play, Li Na set a record for the hosts as the first Chinese player into the last eight at the Olympic singles level.

She staged a home comeback over Estonia's Kaia Kanepi to advance 4-6, 6-2, 6-0 as he momentum quickly picked up.

'I didn't know here game at all,' said the winner.'I had no rhythm, but I took my chance and had the support of the crowd.'

Five-time Wimbledon winner Venus Williams defeated Viktoria Azarenka 6-3, 6-2, while hot-handed Dinara Safin stopped Jie Zheng 6-4, 6-3, the 13th win in a row for the Russian.

There were men's wins for James Blake, Fernando Gonzalez and Paul-Henri Mathieu.