Federer and Nadal cruise as Safin and Murray fire up Wimbledon

0 Comments | AFP, June, 2008

LONDON (AFP) — Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal eased into the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Monday, but it was charismatic Marat Safin and home hope Andy Murray who fired up All England Club passions.

Five-time champion Federer saw off 2002 champion, and father-to-be Lleyton Hewitt, 7-6 (9/7), 6-2, 6-4 and will take on Mario Ancic, the last man to beat him here, for a place in the semi-finals.

Spanish second seed Nadal, the runner-up for the last two years, saw off Russian 17th seed Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 and will now face Murray who staged a remarkable comeback to beat France's Richard Gasquet.

Murray, bidding to be the first British men's champion since Fred Perry in 1936, won 5-7, 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2, 6-4 after four hours of an enthralling tie which...