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Federer canters into Rotterdam quarters

Roger Federer is bidding for a third title in Rotterdam © AP

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Roger Federer comfortably turned on the class to reach the quarter-finals of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament by beating home hope Thiemo de Bakker 6-3 6-4.

Defending champion Federer was clinical in his first round match against Grega Zemlja and his performance was almost as efficient against De Bakker.

He took five minutes longer in his second round match than he had in the first, stopping the court clock at one hour and three minutes. The Swiss master's serve was again right on the money and he only had to face one break point, which he saved.

Wildcard De Bakker was pummelled by Federer's first serve particularly and he only managed to win three points off it over the two sets.

"I'm happy, the conditions are very quick and Thiemo is a dangerous opponent," Federer said. "I'm glad to go through and be in the quarter-finals again. It was a good win."

The world No. 2 now faces Frenchman Julien Benneteau as he bids for a third title in Rotterdam.

For Dutch fans Thursday was a bad day all round as Igor Sijsling, who had knocked out third seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Monday, came up short against Slovakian Martin Klizan losing 6-2 6-4. Fifth seed Gilles Simon will meet Klizan after the Frenchman beat qualifier Matteo Viola from Italy 6-3 6-1.

Second seed Juan Martin Del Potro insisted his re-emergence as a challenger to the world's top four is continuing after he beat Ernests Gulbis 7-6(5) 6-3.

"I know that I can improve," Del Potro said. "But the top four are there for a reason, they are playing better than me, I know that I can beat them, but I need to improve my level. That's what I'm working on, like trying to come to the net more. Right now, I'm happy with my ranking, I'm not frustrated."

The big Argentine will face Jarkko Nieminen next after the Finn dispatched German qualifier Matthias Bachinger 6-3 5-7 6-3.

Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis handed Richard Gasquet his second loss of the season in a 6-4 6-4 victory. Fourth seed Gasquet has won two tour titles this season already but former Australian Open finalist Baghdatis never allowed him to get his into stride and wrapped up the win in one hour and 15 minutes.

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