Federer strolls into hometown quarter-finals

BASEL, Switzerland, Oct 26 (Reuters) Roger Federer's bid for a maiden hometown title moved another step closer to reality when he crushed Spain's Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-2 6-0 in the second round of the Swiss Indoors today.

The world number one next plays another Spaniard, fifth seed David Ferrer, in the quarter-finals.

Garcia-Lopez elected to concentrate on Federer's backhand but the tactic was ruthlessly exploited as the Swiss sprayed the ball around the court at will to seal victory in 52 minutes.

''It's unbelievable how I'm playing at the moment,'' Federer told reporters after clinching his 21st win in a row. ''I was surprised myself about how quickly the match went.'' World number 15 Ferrer advanced with a 2-6 6-3 6-3 victory over Czech Jiri Novak, the 2004 champion.

The Spaniard has lost all four previous meetings with Federer.

Holder Fernando Gonzalez survived another gruelling encounter to take his place in the last eight.

THREE TIEBREAKS Taken to three tiebreaks by Italian Simone Bolelli in the first round yesterday, the third seed from Chile needed more than two and a half hours to oust American Mardy Fish 6-7 6-4 7-6.

Gonzalez progressed after saving six match points in the final set.

Fish, who led the tiebreak 6-2, was rattled by a line call that went against him and continued to berate Swedish umpire Mohamed Lahyani long after surrendering the match on a double fault.

Gonzalez next meets Argentine wildcard Juan Martin Del Potro, who downed local favourite George Bastl 6-3 6-2.

Argentine second seed David Nalbandian plays Spain's Feliciano Lopez later today.

The winner of that match will face Switzerland's Stanislas Wawrinka, who ended Tim Henman's hopes of a third Basel title.

The British number two, who won here in 1998 and 2001, lost 2-6 7-6 6-4.

Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan will take on Jose Acasuso in the last eight after defeating his fellow Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela 6-4 6-3.

Reuters DKS VP0055