Holder Rafael Nadal and world number one Roger Federer wasted no time in advancing to the quarter-finals of the Monte Carlo Masters Series on April 19.

Spaniard Nadal, who extended his record winning streak on clay to 64 matches, took 62 minutes to demolish Belgian Kristof Vliegen 6-1 6-1 while Federer eased past South Korean Lee Huyng-taik 6-4 6-3 in 64 minutes to set up an encounter with claycourt specialist David Ferrer.

The 20-year-old Nadal next meets German qualifier Philipp Kohlschreiber, who beat another qualifier, Guillermo Garcia Lopez of Spain, 5-7 7-6 7-6.

"I played a very good match. I served better than yesterday, I was moving better on the court," said Nadal, who lost his serve in the first game of the second set before winning 21 points in a row.

"He's an excellent player, especially on clay. This is where he's got the most confidence, so it's going to be difficult for me to beat him here," Federer said of Ferrer, who recovered from a sluggish start to knock out sixth seeded Serb Novak Djokovic 7-5 6-4.

The Spaniard has never won a set against Federer in their five previous meetings.

The Swiss, who arrived here with back-to-back defeats by Argentine Guillermo Canas in Miami and Indian Wells, broke decisively in the ninth game of the opening set to take control.

After that, Federer, who has 10 Grand Slams to his name but has yet to win the French Open, was untroubled.

"I think it was an average match from my side. Maybe it was just my timing at the beginning. I was just shanking a lot of balls and not able to keep the ball in play," he said. "Once I was able to do that I was in total control."

(China Daily via Reuters April 20, 2007)