ROGER Federer disposed of Croatia`s Mario Ancic on Saturday to reach the French Open last 16 as the world No.1 also saw potential semi-final opponent Nikolay Davydenko removed from the draw.Federer took just over 90 minutes to clinch a 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over close friend Ancic, the last man to beat him at Wimbledon in 2002, but who has now lost their five subsequent meetings.
The Swiss star will face either France`s Julien Benneteau or Robin Soderling of Sweden on Monday for a place in the quarter-finals.
Earlier Saturday, No.4 seed Davydenko had been knocked out in five sets by Croatia`s Ivan Ljubicic.
Federer, who needs a Roland Garros title to complete a career Grand Slam, was completely untroubled by the 24-year-old Ancic who is still feeling his way back after missing six months of the 2007 season with glandular fever.
He broke in the fourth game of the first set and wrapped up the opener with an ace in the ninth game.
The second set was a similar story with a break in the seventh game while the top seed added further misery on to his opponent by breaking through in the first game of the third set.
Federer served two love service games on his way to a 3-1 lead and broke again to go 4-1 in the third as Ancic struggled in vain to stem the free-flowing hitting of the top seed.
The pair exchanged a break apiece to leave Federer 5-2 up before the Swiss claimed victory when Ancic went long with a return.
Agence France-Presse
