Source: CCTV.com

07-03-2008 10:31

Five-time defending champion Roger Federer cruised into the last four at the Wimbledon Championships on Wednesday, following a straight sets win over Croatia's Mario Ancic.

Roger Federer of Switzerland serves to Mario Ancic of Croatia during their quarter-final match at the Wimbledon tennis  championships in London July 2, 2008.(Kevin Lamarque/Reuters)

Unseeded Ancic has had to carry the burden of being the last man to beat Federer at the All England Club, way back in the first round in 2002. Federer has beaten Ancic five times since, and took only 20 minutes to take the first set 6-1. Following a two hour rain break, Ancic rallied in the second set, but Federer duly served out with an ace to take it 7-5, and there was no way back for Ancic from there. In the end, Federer was on court for only an hour and 41 minutes as Ancic was dispatched 6-1, 7-5, 6-4. The champion has yet to drop a set as he cruises into last four.

Federer will meet Russian maverick Marat Safin, after he beat Feliciano Lopez of Spain on No.1 court. The match was forced into a 4th set, and a double fault from Lopez handed the match to Safin 3-6, 7-5, 7-6, 6-3 in a little over two and a half hours.

In the other half of the draw, British hope Andy Murray was up against world number two and four-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal. Murray found himself two sets down, and at that point there was no stopping Nadal, who powered his way to victory, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4.

Switzerland's Roger Federer in action during his quarterfinal match against Croatia's Mario Ancic on the Centre Court at Wimbledon, Wednesday, July 2, 2008.(AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Switzerland's Roger Federer reacts after winning his quarterfinal match against Croatia's Mario Ancic on the Centre Court at Wimbledon, Wednesday, July 2 , 2008.(AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus)

Editor:Xiong Qu