Federer, Hewitt Lead Seeds Into Indian Wells Quarters

World No. 1 Roger Federer was forced to muster all his talent Wednesday to quell the power game of his ongoing rival, No. 13-seeded Ivan Ljubicic, Wednesday at the ATP stop in Indian Wells, putting down the Croatian in two tiebreaks 7-6(3), 7-6(4).

"I just believe that once I get in a tiebreaker, anything can happen," Federer said after recording his fourth win over Ljubicic this year in four meetings. "I just try to serve as good as I can and not give him any cheap points. It has a lot to do with making the right choices at the right time."

Federer, now 23-1 on the season, faced no break points during the match and failed to convert on his lone break opportunity.

Top Americans (3) Andy Roddick (d. (17) Gonzalez) and (9) Andre Agassi (d. (5) Coria) also cruised into the quarterfinals in straight sets.

"It's good to have matches like these and know you are up to the task," said Agassi, who rolled through the second set 6-1 against Coria to set up a meeting with Hewitt. "He's a pretty good competitor and makes you hit close to the lines. It was pretty toe-to-toe. It felt good."

Injury-ridden American Taylor Dent, coming off a win over Australian Open champ Marat Safin, this time succumbed to illness in retiring against Guillermo Canas after losing the first set with a stomach virus.

"It's absolutely disappointing coming off a big win against Safin," Dent said.

No. 29 seed Nicolas Kiefer was an upset winner, trouncing No. 10 David Nalbandian 6-1, 6-3, with No. 2 Lleyton Hewitt pounding unseeded Frenchman Paul-Henri Mathieu 6-1, 6-0, No. 6 Tim Henman surviving in three sets against No. 12 Tommy Robredo, and No. 7 Carlos Moya deflecting the wizardry of unseeded Frenchman Fabrice Santoro in straight sets.

Seeds advancing in doubles Wednesday were (1) Knowles/Nestor (d. Frenchmen (WC) Grosjean/Monfils), Americans (4) Bryan/Bryan (d. Cermak/Friedl), and (6) Paes/Zimonjic (d. Belgians Malisse/Rochus).

Singles quarterfinal action scheduled for Thursday is (14) Canas vs. (6) Henman, and (1) Federer vs. (29) Kiefer.