Tennis: Federer strolls into last 16 at Wimbledon

LONDON - Top seed Roger Federer sauntered into the last 16 of Wimbledon today with a regulation 6-3 7-6 6-4 victory over Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.

His 44th consecutive grasscourt victory was never really in doubt against the 24-year-old former Wimbledon junior champion and he spent most of the match in cruise control.

Federer, who is aiming to match Bjorn Borg and Pete Sampras by winning four consecutive Wimbledon titles, has yet to drop a set at this year's tournament.

The latest exhibition of his extraordinary talent will not live long in the memory.

A muted court one crowd sensed the inevitability of the outcome once Federer had sealed the opening set with a solitary break of serve.

Mahut, the world number 77, had a brute of a first serve and managed to keep the world number one in his sights, even though a shock never looked on the cards.

"I expected a big serve, but I didn't expect that big of a second serve," Federer told reporters.

"That was really what was difficult for me. There were many, many points that were over in no time, and you don't really get a momentum going.

"Obviously the crowd, they're waiting for something to happen. I was pretty relaxed all the way through and it was important not getting frustrated against a player like that.

"It was a tricky match. It was really difficult."

Federer dealt comfortably with one break point at 3-4 in the second set before accelearting away in the tiebreak which he took 7-2.

His only blemish came at 5-3 in the third set when he sloppily lost his serve but he immediately broke back with a volley of passing shots to end the contest just past the two-hour mark.

The Swiss champion will play either Germany's Tommy Haas or Czech Tomas Berdych for a place in the quarter-finals.

- REUTERS