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BASEL, Switzerland: Roger Federer took just an hour to crush Andreas Seppi 6-3, 6-3 for a sixth straight victory against the Italian to reach the quarter-finals of the Swiss Indoors on Wednesday.
The top seed, a hometown hero at the St Jakobshalle, was invincible as he reached the last eight, winning his 17th straight match in Basel and his 57th of the season.
The winner of the last three editions has not been defeated at the tournament since 2003 when he lost to Ivan Ljubicic, who went out here on Wednesday having come to the tournament in form having won the Lyon title last Sunday.
"It was a straight forward match, similar to my first round," said a relaxed Federer.
"But tonight I had to saved break points,it was a bit tougher.
"I was able to raise my game when I needed to, it was a good performance."
Federer saved two break points in the routine win, with Seppi yet to win a set in their encounters.
The Swiss improved to a 31-6 record in his career playing at home and has now won 36 of his last 37 matches.
Federer will await a winner from Russian Evgeny Korolev and France's Jeremy Chardy, who beat slumping American James Blake, 7-6 (7/4), 6-7 (6/8), 6-4.
"He served well and I didn't do my job of putting pressure on his serve," said the 41st-ranked Blake who had to deal with 24 aces from his opponent.
"That made a big difference.
"If you don't do that, you have a tough time putting any pressure. I had one lapse early in the third set and he took advantage. He didn't let up on his serve at all during the match."
Croatian fourth seed Marin Cilic stayed in touch for a possible place in the year-end final as he began with a defeat of Philipp Petzschner 6-4, 6-4.
The German, also a first-round loser last week in Vienna, has gone a month without a decent result dating back six weeks ago to Metz, when he reached the quarter-finals against Richard Gasquet.
Gasquet was also in action on Wednesday and qualified for the second round with victory over Argentine Horacio Zeballos 7-6 (7/3), 6-4.
Gasquet earned a narrow win over the 42nd-ranked Zeballos with nine aces, saving both break points against his serve.
The Frenchman finally won a match after losing five of his previous eight, with the victory snapping a two-match losing streak in the first round.
Cilic, losing finalist at the weekend in Austria to home favourite Jurgen Melzer, needs a massive performance in the last three weeks of the regular ATP season if he is to make a run for the eight-man ATP World Tour Finals in London from November 22.
The Croatian remains provisional 12th in the sprint for the last two spots in the year-end field, needing to nudge in front of provisional eight-placed Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.
He must start with a title in Basel, no easy ask with Federer on hand and in lethal touch.
Cilic will face his second-round challenge against Serbian Viktor Troicki.
Swiss sixth seed Stanislas Wawrinka beat Ljubicic 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 6-4 despite dealing with a shoulder problem for which he received treatment on court.
"I was able to make a comeback even with my physical problem," said Wawrinka.
"It was a good victory and it wasn't easy.
"I managed to produce the tennis I needed. I stayed aggressive in the third set and put on the pressure."
Czech Radek Stepanek joined Federer in the last eight, defeating Florent Serra of France 3-6, 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (7/1). - AFP/de
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