TENNIS: Roger Federer led a trio of top players into the quarter-finals of the Rome Masters yesterday with a 6-1, 6-4 win over Radek Stepanek.

The world number one, aiming for his third Masters Series title of 2006, was joined in the last eight by fourth seed David Nalbandian, who beat Alberto Martin 7-5 6-4, and fifth seed Andy Roddick, who knocked out Greg Rusedski 7-6 6-2.

Stepanek offered little resistance to Federer and made a succession of errors to surrender the first set in 22 minutes. He never looked likely to get back into the contest after dropping serve in the third game of the second set.

"He never really got close to my serve, and that made the match go so easy and so quick really," said Federer, who has yet to drop a set in the tournament.