Roger Federer was barely troubled as he cruised into the last 16 at Wimbledon with a straight sets win over Santiago Giraldo under the Centre Court roof.
The seven-time champion beat Colombian world number 35 Giraldo 6-3, 6-1, 6-3 in an hour and 21 minutes and rarely looked troubled.
He next faces either Tommy Robredo or Jerzy Janowicz for a place in the quarter-finals.
“I just got to keep playing aggressive and serving well,” said Federer, who is yet to lose a set in the tournament and has only dropped 23 games in three matches.
Giraldo, 26, is in the form of his life, having hit a career-high ranking of 34 in May and it would have taken the biggest win of his career to become the first Colombian to reach the last 16 at Wimbledon.
The pair had only met once previously, with 32-year-old Federer winning in straight sets in the first round of the 2011 US Open.
On Saturday, the Swiss was much sharper when coming off the baseline, with Giraldo's forays forward more often ending with the ball hitting the net.
However, Giraldo had the shot of the match with a backhand down the line to keep himself in the third set.
The Colombian even fashioned two break points for himself at 3-3 in the third set but Federer pulled off some smart serves to win the game and did not look back.
Federer's victory brought England football icon David Beckham to his feet, one of several British and international sports stars invited into the Royal Box.
In the fourth round, Federer faces either the big-serving Polish 15th seed Janowicz, a semi-finalist last year, or Robredo of Spain, seeded 23rd. – AFP