World number one men's tennis player Roger Federer of Switzerland has advanced to the quarterfinals of the Hamburg Masters tournament in Germany, a key warm-up for this month's French Open.
Federer defeated Tommy Robredo of Spain in straight sets, 6-2, 6-3. The Swiss player faces French Open runner-up Guillermo Coria of Argentina, who ousted Mario Ancic of Croatia (6-4, 6-3). Federer and Coria last met in the finals of this tournament last year, with Federer winning in four sets (4-6, 6-4, 6-2, 6-3).
Meanwhile, fifth-seeded Tim Henman of Britain lost in three sets to unseeded Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela (3-6, 6-4, 6-2). Chela plays Christophe Rochus of Belgium, a three-set winner over reigning French Open champion Gaston Gaudio of Argentina,(6-2, 5-7, 6-3).
Also Thursday, Frenchman Richard Gasquet defeated Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia (6-1, 6-2). Gasquet plays Italian qualifier Andreas Seppi in the final eight. Seppi beat Jiri Novak of the Czech Republic (6-3, 6-4).
Russia's Nikolay Davydenko ousted former French Open winner Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain in three sets (3-6, 6-2, 6-1). The Russian takes on Italian Filippo Volandri a straight-set winner over Sebastien Grosjean of France (6-3, 6-4).
The Hamburg Masters is one of several clay-court events that players are using to prepare for the second major tournament of the year, the French Open, which starts May 23rd in Paris.
Some information for this report provided by AP.