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Federer hands Berdych grasscourt masterclass

July 03, 2006 23:19 IST

Triple champion Roger Federer's Wimbledon title charge gathered momentum on Monday after he dispatched Czech Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-3, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals on Monday.

Berdych had inflicted one of the most painful defeats of his career on Federer, at the 2004 Athens Olympics, but there would be no repeat performance on Monday.

Federer oozed class on a sweltering Centre Court and wrapped up his 45th consecutive victory on grass with an unreturnable serve after 83 minutes.

The Swiss world number will next take on big-serving Croat Mario Ancic, the last man to defeat Federer on green lawns in 2002, or talented Serb Novak Djokovic.

Baghdatis  too good for Murray

British interest in the singles ended at Wimbledon on Monday when Andy Murray went down 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 to Australian Open runner-up Marcos Baghdatis.

Baghdatis, two years older than the 19-year-old Murray, is the first Cypriot to reach the quarter-finals of Wimbledon.

Murray was a pale imitation of the player who demolished former world number one Andy Roddick on Saturday.

After surrendering the first set he looked to have got back on track when he went 4-1 up in the second, only to lose the next five games.

In the third set tiebreak Baghdatis maintained his composure, cruising through it 7-2, grabbing victory with a straightforward forehand after a poor Murray dropshot.

Hewitt battles past Ferrer

Lleyton Hewitt edged closer to another crack at a Wimbledon final with an unconvincing 6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 7-5 fourth round defeat of Spanish claycourt specialist David Ferrer.

The Australian sixth seed, who ended an 18-month title drought by winning the Stella Artois tournament last month, was far from his best on court one and very nearly allowed Ferrer to come back from a two-set deficit.

Playing in the opposite half of the draw from his nemesis Roger Federer, however, the 25-year-old Hewitt will fancy his chances of reaching his second Wimbledon final. He won here in 2002.

Next up for Hewitt is Baghdatis.

Source: REUTERS
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