Federer faultless as another Wimbledon dream draws closer

By Bill Scott Jul 3, 2006, 22:24 GMT

Defending champion Roger Federer of Switzerland returns to Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic during their fourth round match for the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis Club, Monday 03 July 2006. EPA/GERRY PENNY

London - Roger Federer's bid for another perfect run on grass moved a step closer to reality as the unstoppable Swiss crushed Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals Monday.

The start of the second week at the championships could not have been better scripted by the world's top ranked player who has won the last three editions at the All England club.

So far, Federer has not lost a set as he claimed his 45th consecutive match win on grass. Since losing to Mario Ancic at Wimbledon 2002, the Swiss has won 75 of 79 sets at the All England Club.

Despite his comprehensive victory over Berdych, who beat him at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, Federer said he's seen better days.

'My first couple matches were much better than this,' he said of the 13th seed, nursing a shoulder problem.

'But this had had something to do with the way of his game. I knew after I won the second set that I was through.

'It was just a matter of time until I got the break. In the end, I'm pretty pleased to have had an easy day.'

Rafael Nadal of Spain continued his fast-track learning curve on the surface by defeating Irakli Labadze 6-3, 7-6 (7-4), 6-3.

Nadal became only the fourth Spanish man to reach the Wimbledon last eight in the post-1968 era: Andres Gimeno (1970 semi-finals), Manuel Orantes (1972 semi-finals) and Feliciano Lopez (2005 quarter- finals) were the other three.

Lleyton Hewitt, the 2002 champion, needed almost three hours to get past clay-courting David Ferrer 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5, with the Australian tossing in 38 unforced errors against a Spaniard playing only his 11th match on grass.

'When I got the first two sets under my belt, I was pretty happy but I by no means thought the match was over, that's for sure,' said the sixth seeded winner. Australian Open finalist Marcos Baghdatis will next line up against Hewitt after destroying British hopes with his defeat of lethargic Andy Murray 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2).

Ancic, seeded seventh, out-duelled Serb Novak Djokovic 6-4, 4-6, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 while Finn Jarkko Nieminen will play his second career Grand Slam quarter after taking four hours to oust Dmitry Tursunov 7- 5, 6-4, 6-7 (2-7), 6-7 (6-8), 9-7 in a match where the angry Russian imploded.

Women's top seed Amelie Mauresmo, who made her breakthrough with the Australian Open title in January, dispatched Serbia's last hope in Ana Ivanovic 6-3, 6-4.

'I wanted to make sure I was good on my service and give her trouble on hers,' said Mauresmo after winning the 101st main draw Slam match of her career.

'I had to stay strong mentally. From now on, every match you play will be a tough one. You have to hang in there, even if you don't feel so good.

'But I feel great here and my game is better and better the more I hit on grass.'

Belgians pair of battlers as well as three Russian advanced into the last eight.

For the third time in three Grand Slams this year, just one American got through to the second week after Moscow's two-time Grand Slam finalist Elena Dementieva defeated Shenay Perry 6-2, 6-0.

Second seed Kim Clijsters and Belgian compatriot both advanced, with Clisters overwhelming Pole Agnieszka Radwanska, last year's junior champion, 6-2, 6-2.

Third ranked Justine Henin-Hardenne, whose 42 wins this season lead the WTA, defeated Slovak Daniela Hantuchova 6-3, 6-1.

Former champion Maria Sharapova and French Open winner Anastasia Myskina completed Russia's winning trio on the day.

Sharapova closed out a tough challenge from Italian Flavia Pennetta 7-6 (7-5), 3-6, 6-3, overcoming 10 double-faults.

'I just didn't feel like I was playing my best tennis,' said the teenaged 2004 winner. 'In the end, it all came down to how much I fought.

'It wasn't really about how good or bad I played, or how good she played, because she played extremely well.'

Myskina ended this year's surprise Serbian challenge 6-4, 7-6 (7- 5) over Jelena Jankovic.

Li Na made history as the first Chinese into a Grand Slam quarter, upsetting Czech 10th seed Nicole Vaidisova 4-6, 6-1, 6-3.