Roger Federer brushed aside Aussie dangerman Lleyton Hewitt at Wimbledon on Monday only to find Mario Ancic, the last man to beat him at the All England Club, standing in his way of a semifinal place.

Top seed Federer shattered father-to-be Hewitt's hopes with a 7-6 (9/7), 6-2, 6-4 victory which took the five-time champion into the quarterfinals.

Unseeded Ancic, whose career has been blighted by illness and injury, made sure of his place by coming back from two sets down to beat Spanish 22nd seed Fernando Verdasco 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, 13-11.

The Croatian shot to fame in 2002 when he defeated the Swiss star in the first round in what proved to be Federer's last defeat on a grasscourt.

The world number one, bidding to become the first man to win six successive titles, racked up his 63rd successive win on grass by dismissing Hewitt, the last man to win the title in 2002 before the top seed created his personal monopoly.

"I underestimated Mario that day," recalled Federer who has since defeated Ancic five times out of five, including a straight-sets win in the quarterfinals at Wimbledon in 2006.

"I expected him to stay back then but he served and volleyed. I was completely surprised, a little shell-shocked. That was my problem. He was new on the tour and it taught me not to underestimate my opponents regardless of their ranking or technique."

Hewitt, the 20th seed, went into the fourth round match nursing a long-standing hip injury and regularly winced with pain on Centre Court.

His agony had been eased by the announcement earlier on Monday that he and wife Bec, a former soap star, were expecting their second child in January.

However, Federer ruined the celebrations by claiming his 14th win in 22 meetings with the gutsy 27-year-old Australian.

"I served well which was important," said Federer who saved all eight break points he faced.

"But I could see Lleyton was struggling. The tiebreaker was key as that put me on the way and I saved break points when I had to."

Hewitt had his chances but all eight break points he painstakingly carved out went to waste.

"Roger served extremely well. Any quarter chances I got I didn't have for long," said Hewitt.

"He hit the lines very well and that's why he's the best player in the world especially on this surface."

Ancic, a semi-finalist in 2004, missed last year's Wimbledon because of glandular fever with his career further hampered by a shoulder injury and stomach illness.

It took him almost four hours to achieve the win on a sweltering Court 11.

Later Monday, second seed Rafal Nadal was taking on Russia's Mikhail Youzhny for a place in the last eight with lone British hope Andy Murray, the 12th seed facing talented Frenchman, Richard Gasquet.

AFP

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