Federer breezes past Soderling

Defending champion Roger Federer [Images] breezed past Sweden's Robin Soderling to reach the third round of Wimbledon on Wednesday.

The Swiss, bidding for a sixth consecutive title at the grasscourt major, recovered from a few tricky moments in the third set before completing a 6-3, 6-4, 7-6 victory.

Federer looked completely in control until he was broken for the first time to trail 5-2 in the third set but Soderling wasted a set point at 5-3 and the world number one stormed back to take the match on a tiebreak.

Federer will play either Marc Gicquel or lucky loser Ilia Bozoljac in the third round.

Chile's Fernando Gonzalez joined the growing list of seeded casualties on Wednesday when he was beaten in four sets by Italy's [Images] Simone Bolelli.

Fifteenth seed Gonzalez, a quarter-finalist at the French Open earlier this month, went down 7-6, 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 as Bolelli joined compatriot Andreas Seppi in the third round.

Bolelli, making his second appearance at All England [Images] Club, plays Australian former champion Lleyton Hewitt [Images] next.

Gonzalez had reached at least the third round in each of the last four years at Wimbledon.

Third seed Novak Djokovic also fell in the top half on Wednesday, beaten by Marat Safin [Images], while Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero, seeded 21, retired injured when two sets down against Germany's [Images] Mischa Zverev.

Former champion Amelie Mauresmo survived an early scare to beat Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 on Wednesday and set up a third round clash with another former winner Serena Williams [Images].

Ruano Pascual, the oldest woman left in the draw at 34, broke the 29th seeded Frenchwoman at 3-3 to take the first set but was easily swept aside in the next two.

The Spaniard, a nine-times grand slam doubles champion, won just two more games against the 2006 champion, six years her junior.

Former world number one Mauresmo faces twice winner Williams in the tie of the next round having lost both their previous meetings here in the 2002 and 2004 semi-finals.

Twice former champion Serena produced an erratic performance but proved too strong for Polish teenager Urszula Radwanska whom she dispatched 6-4, 6-4.

© Copyright 2008 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon.