Seven-time champion Roger Federer will take on close friend Stan Wawrinka in the Wimbledon quarter-finals after both men hurried to victory just in time to watch their native Switzerland tackle mighty Argentina in the World Cup.
Federer eased into his 12th Wimbledon quarter-final with a 6-1 6-4 6-4 win over Tommy Robredo, a victory headlined by a perfect second set.
Australian Open champion Wawrinka, the fifth seed, made his first last-eight date at the All England Club at the 10th attempt by seeing off Spain’s Feliciano Lopez 7-6 (7-5) 7-6 (9-7) 6-3.
Federer will start as overwhelming favourite having a 13-2 record over his 2008 Olympic Games gold medal partner.
But Wawrinka won their last encounter on clay at the Monte Carlo Masters final in April and the two have never met on grass.
Federer allowed fellow 32-year-old Robredo just three points off his serve in the first set and then none at all in the second with the 17-time grand slam title winner claiming 20 out of 20 points on service.
In all, Robredo won just 14 points on the Federer serve as the Swiss star went level with Boris Becker in joint second place for most match wins at the tournament on 71.
It was Federer’s 11th win in 12 meetings with 23rd seed Robredo and avenged his loss to the Spaniard in the fourth round of the US Open last year.
Federer finished with 11 aces and 41 winners and has still to drop a set in the tournament in marked contrast to 12 months ago when he was knocked out in the second round.
“I had a great first week and now I have started the second week well,” Federer said.
“I’m in another quarter-final and you feel as if you are closer to the finish line. I am serving well, returning well and my movement is good.”
Federer then turned his attentions to Switzerland’s World Cup second round clash against Lionel Messi’s Argentina later on Monday.
“I might watch it while I am having treatment as I will be so tense,” said Federer.
“I want to see Messi play. We have nothing to lose and I’m sure we will it give it a go and see what happens. You never know, that’s why we all watch sport.”
The first set of the Wawrinka-Lopez clash saw the 100th tiebreak of the men’s tournament at this year’s Wimbledon – the first time in history that the number of tiebreaks at a Grand Slam has reached triple figures in either the men’s or the women’s event.
The two men were then locked in a heated discussion at the net at the end of the tie although Wawrinka attempted to play down any bad feeling.
“It was nothing big. It was just a few things about the match, he said it wasn’t anything against me,” said Wawrinka.
