The 27th seed was meant to provide a stern test for Federer after disposing of Novak Djokovic at the French Open last month but the gulf in class was immediate as the Swiss maestro opened up a one-set lead in just 37 minutes.

The second was in the bag 30 minutes later but the German rallied from 2-0 down in the third to take it to a tiebreak which he won with a wonderful angled backhand 7-5.

Federer, five times a champion here, snuffed out the rising threat by racing to a 3-0 lead in the fourth and finally booked a fourth-round berth against French Open finalist Robin Soderling of Sweden with a thunderous forehand winner. -- REUTERS