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HAMBURG, Germany : Both defending champion Roger Federer and third seed Novak Djokovic are safely into the quarter-finals of the Hamburg Masters Series after their third round matches on Thursday.
World number one Federer has now only lost one set to Sweden's Robin Soderling in their six meetings and the Swiss master had no problems as he recorded a 6-3, 6-2 win in just one hour six minutes.
"I was happy with the match, I controlled things well from the base-line and I feel comfortable here," beamed Federer who has won four of the last six tournaments in Hamburg.
"I have been doing well here since 2002, I struggled for a few years before that, but I have had so much success here since then.
"Germany is similar to Switzerland and it helps to be in familiar surroundings.
"I feel good in myself, I have played a lot of tennis this year, but I am not feeling jaded or carrying any injuries.
"I am looking forward to Roland Garros and then Wimbledon before I have a rest."
Having beaten Spain's Rafael Nadal in last year's final, Federer will now meet Spain's Fernando Verdasco in Friday's last eight clash.
And Australian Open winner Djokovic, who set up a quarter-final clash with Spain's Albert Montanes, is on course to meet clay-court king Nadal if the pair both make it to Saturday's semi-finals.
Djokovic had few problems as he saw off Croatia's Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7/3), 6-3 in Thursday's third round match.
Earlier, seeded pair Argentine Juan Monaco and Spain's David Ferrer both crashed out of the tournament as they suffered third rounds upsets.
Italy's Andreas Seppi is starting to make a name for himself after he removed his second consecutive seed from the draw with a straight sets win over 12th seed Monaco to reach the quarter-finals.
Having knocked out French number one Richard Gasquet on Tuesday 6-3, 6-2 in the second round, Seppi inflicted a 6-0, 6-3 defeat on Monaco and is likely to face fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko in the last eight.
And fifth seed Ferrer went out when he was beaten 7-6 (7/4), 6-2 by Verdasco in the third round. - AFP/de
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