Federer cruises into Wimbledon second week

(CNN) -- Five-times champion Roger Federer secured his place in the second week of Wimbledon following a comfortable straight-sets third round victory over France's Marc Gicquel.

The world number one overcame a slow start after the first rain delay of the tournament to cruise to a 6-3 6-3 6-1 victory in just 81 minutes on Center Court.

"The conditions were difficult again against a tricky opponent who played very aggressively," Federer said. "The wind was swirling and I got down a break early and had to rally back but I think I played really well.

"Not losing a set so far is always nice and I get a couple of days off now and hopefully I will play as well again next week."

Federer's opponent in the last 16 will be Lleyton Hewitt, who won Wimbledon in 2002 -- the year before the Swiss star began his run of five straight titles.

Hewitt, who has been troubled by a chronic hip injury and is seeded 20th this year, served 14 aces to defeat Italy's Simone Bolelli 6-1 6-3 7-6.

"The next round will be much more difficult," said Federer. "We've played maybe over 16 times. He is a former world number one and Grand Slam champion so it should be a great match."

Federer leads Hewitt 13-7 in career meetings and has won 11 straight matches going back to the Australian Open in 2004.

They have played twice before at Wimbledon, with Federer winning in the quarterfinals in 2004 and semifinals in 2005.

Meanwhile, Federer looked to have been caught cold after a 90-minute rain delay as he lost his serve in the opening game of his match, but instantly broke back to level the score.

Gicquel, the world number 53, was not initially overawed by the occasion and saved a break point in the fourth game, but eventually the unforced errors mounted as Federer also began to find his rhythm.

Top seed Federer broke for a 4-2 lead and served out to take the set 6-3 after 32 minutes. Despite being the second oldest man left in the draw, Gicquel was making only his second appearance at Wimbledon.

The 31-year-old lost in the first round last year but came back from two sets down to defeat Ilia Bozoljac in the second round earlier this week -- saving a match point in the fourth set -- and was runner-up in the grasscourt event in the Netherlands last week.

However, facing Federer on Center Court was an entirely different proposition and the Swiss broke in the opening game of the second set and again in the ninth to take it 6-3.

Federer looked capable of raising his game whenever required and did so to break Gicquel's serve for the fifth time to lead 3-1 in the third set.

The 26-year-old was also able to respond to even the slightest hint of danger, recovering from 15-30 down in the next game with three unreturnable serves.

A sixth break of Gicquel's serve helped put the Frenchman out of his misery as Federer cruised to victory.

Meanwhile, the men's seeds continue to tumble out of the tournament with just four of the top 10 remaining in the draw.

Former semifinalist Mario Ancic sent fifth seed David Ferrer packing on Center Court, with the Croatian going through 6-4 6-4 6-7 7-6 in the final match of the day.

The unseeded Ancic reached the last four in 2004 and quarterfinals in 2006 but missed Wimbledon last year with glandular fever.

He also broke a small bone in his shoulder late last year and sat out January's Australian Open with a stomach virus. He said: "I was looking forward to playing on Center Court. That was my dream. I'm so, so happy I'm back again."

Ancic's prize is a last 16 clash with 22nd seed Fernando Verdasco, after the Spaniard caused another surprise by thrashing 11th-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych 6-4 6-4 6-0.

Marcos Baghdatis continued his smooth progress through the tournament, avoiding the host of seeded casualties with a straight sets victory over Germany's Simon Stadler.

The 10th-seeded Cypriot secured his place in the last 16 with a comfortable 7-6 6-4 6-2 victory and he will now play 31st seed Feliciano Lopez for a place in the quarterfinals.

Spaniard Lopez sealed his place in the draw with a 6-4 7-5 4-6 6-4 victory over the final American remaining in the men's draw, Bobby Reynolds.

Another seed to make it through is 13th seed Stanislas Wawrinka, the Swiss joining compatriot Federer in the last 16 after opponent Mischa Zverev of Germany retired while trailing 7-5 6-1.

Wawrinka next faces Marat Safin, who progressed to the last 16 with a 7-6 3-6 7-6 6-4 victory over 29th seed Andreas Seppi of Italy.

The Russian, who bombed out Novak Djokovic in straight sets on Wednesday, hit some fabulous returns to go with some fearsome 130mph-plus serves.

Safin gained the mini-break in the tie-break to go 4-3 up, riding his luck with a net cord. The second set went Seppi's way after he claimed two consecutive breaks to move 3-1 up and a double-fault enabled the Italian to make it 5-1.

Safin broke back but Seppi was able to serve out for the set. The third went Safin's way in the tie-break again as his huge serve began to give him the edge as the light faded. Seppi fought gamely on as the crowd got behind Safin but the break in the third game proved crucial as the Russian progressed.