Argentine fourth seed Nalbandian, one of just four men to have beaten Federer since the start of 2005, was dismissed by Spanish 28th seed Fernando Verdasco 7-6 (11/9), 7-6 (11/9), 6-2.

Blake, the eighth seeded American, lost a gruelling five-setter to Belarussian giant Max Mirnyi 6-4, 3-6, 4-6, 6-1, 6-0.

Both men were in Federer's half of the draw.

The triple champion and world number one took full advantage of his rivals' slip-ups by clinching his 45th consecutive grass court win with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/2), 6-4 victory over France's Nicolas Mahut.

He will now face either Tommy Haas of Germany or the Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych for a place in the quarterfinals.

Nalbandian, the 2002 runner-up, paid a heavy price for demanding that his match be scheduled as early as possible to allow him time to watch Argentina face Germany in the World Cup quarterfinals.

China was also celebrating when Li Na became the first Chinese woman to reach the fourth round here when she came from behind to beat Russian fifth seed, and former US Open champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova 3-6, 6-2, 6-3.

Li, the 27th seed, will face either Nicole Vaidisova of the Czech Republic or Croatia's Karolina Sprem for a quarterfinal spot.

Lleyton Hewitt, the 2002 champion, reached the third round after edging a marathon five-setter against South Korea's Lee Hyung-Taik.

The sixth-seed Australian, and one of the few men seen as having a chance of derailing Federer, broke Lee's service in the tenth game of the fifth set to clinch a 6-7 (4/7), 6-2, 7-6 (8/6), 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 victory in a match that had been interrupted on Thursday night at the end of the fourth set.

In total, the Australian was on court for five minutes short of four hours -- far from ideal preparation for Saturday's third round meeting with Belgian Olivier Rochus.

In the other third round match held over from Thursday, Britain's Andy Murray saw off France's Julien Benneteau 7-6 (7/5), 6-4, 4-6, 6-1 to set up a fourth round clash against Andy Roddick.

In the women's event, Justine Henin-Hardenne, fresh from her third French Open triumph, moved into the fourth round as she targets winning the only Grand Slam to have eluded her.

The Belgian third seed eased past Anna Chakvetadze, the Russian 30th seed, 6-2, 6-3 and will take on Daniela Hantuchova of Slovakia for a place in the last eight.