Wimbledon - Men's:Normal service resumed as Wimbledon champion Roger Federer demolished Arnaud Clement 6-2 6-4 6-2 to ease into the fourth round. For the first time in his career, Federer had dropped three sets in the opening two matches of a Grand Slam, but today he breezed past the oldest man left in the draw.
The 28-year-old Swiss, chasing a record-equalling seventh Wimbledon title, was assisted by some indifferent play from Clement.
Clement was playing in his 50th Grand Slam tournament and the Frenchman used his experience to claw himself back into contention on court, if not the scoreboard, in the second set.
With his forehand repeatedly misfiring, however, he crumbled in the third set and Federer was able to conduct play throughout.
The top seed will face Jurgen Melzer - a four-set winner over Feliciano Lopez - for the first time in the fourth round and will feel all the better for this confidence-restoring victory after being pushed so close by Alejandro Falla in his tournament opener.
Federer was pleased to have ended a challenging opening week by making rapid progress into the last 16.
"I'm excited about having the weekend off because it's been a tough first week. I'm excited to still be here," he said.
"Jurgen Melzer is the same age and we go way back but I've never played him before. It's going to be interesting.''
Meanwhile, Lleyton Hewittwill play Novak Djokovicin the last 16 after both men won their third-round matches on Friday.
Hewitt, who beat Federer to win the Halle warm-up tournament, continued his fine form with a straight-sets victory over Gael Monfils.
Many had expected an epic encounter on Centre Court, but Hewitt produced an impressive display to win 6-3 7-6 (11/9) 6-4.
The Australian, winner in SW19 back in 2002, took control in the early stages, although Monfils did threaten a fightback in the second set.
When Hewitt squandered two set points at 6-4 in the breakers, Monfils got his chance but he was unable to convert set points of his own and ended up falling two sets down.
The Frenchman fought back from a break of serve down in the third but Hewitt pounced with a fine return game in the 10th game, Monfils handing him victory with a double fault on match point.
Hewitt said: "I felt I played well out there - I played smart tennis. I served well for two sets, the third set I didn't but I didn't need to as much.
"My plans were executed to perfection in the first two sets. Today was a step-up in class and I rose to it."
Looking ahead to his clash with Djokovic, he added: "If I go out there the way that I've been playing and hitting the ball, I can give him a run for his money."
Third seed Djokovic had earlier thrashed Spain's Albert Montanes6-1 6-4 6-4 to march into the fourth round.
Montanes, the world number 31, rarely troubled the hugely impressive Djokovic throughout a one-sided match that took one hour and 41 minutes to settle.
Djokovic's serve - he fired 11 aces - did most of the damage with Montanes failing to secure a single break point as he sought to secure his first appearance in the fourth round of a Grand Slam.
"I was holding my service games comfortably and I'm thrilled to go though," said Djokovic.
"I was a little bit frustrated with my return, which is usually one of my weapons.
"It hasn't been the best couple of months for me but I'm still holding on and there's huge motivation to do well at Wimbledon.
"It's the tournament I respect most and I have to keep on fighting."
The Serb will now face Hewitt on Monday in a repeat of their memorable 2007 battle at the same stage of the tournament. On that occasion Djokovic won in four sets in a match lasting more than four hours.
John Isner'srecord-breaking first-round match took its toll as he crashed out in ignominious fashion.
The 25-year-old American looked completely drained of energy from his marathon 11-hour triumph over Nicolas Mahut as he lost 6-0 6-3 6-2 to Dutchman Thiemo De Bakker, a player 30 places below him in the world rankings.
Less than 24 hours after playing his part in the longest match in tennis history - comprising 183 games - Isner's clash with De Bakker was all over after just 25 games, the shortest of the men's singles at Wimbledon so far this year.
And, after being on court for a record 11 hours and five minutes spread over three days against Mahut, the 23rd seed was beaten in just an hour and 14 minutes.
Isner admitted later that he knew the prospects for his second-round match were not good.
He said: "I actually didn't even warm up for my match today. I was in the training room trying to get ready and getting my feet taped up, getting my shoulders loosened.
"But when I went out there and hit that first serve and it didn't have much behind it, I knew I was in for some trouble. On top of that, I'm playing a really good player who's on top of his game. So bundle those up together, it wasn't a recipe for success.
"My neck was a little stiff. So on the serve, I couldn't really look up as much as possible and turn like I wanted to on my forehand side.''
Next up for De Bakker will be a meeting with Paul-Henri Mathieu, the Frenchman having beaten 13th seed Mikhail Youzhnyin five sets.
Czech star Tomas Berdychcontinued his impressive season, beating Denis Istominin a tough five-setter to reach the last 16.
Berdych, who beat Andy Murray en route to the semi-finals of the French Open, emerged a 6-7 (1/7) 7-6 (7/5) 6-7 (8/10) 6-3 6-4 winner from a tight tussle on Court 12.
The unseeded Yen-Hsun Lu, of Chinese Taipei, also won when opponent Florian Mayerquit their clash when two sets down. As a result, Lu is into the last 16 of a Grand Slam for the first time.