Federer, Coria face-off

Roger Federer overwhelmed Tommy Robredo 6-2, 6-3 at the Hamburg Masters on Thursday to set up a quarter-final showdown with Argentine Guille...

Roger Federer overwhelmed Tommy Robredo 6-2, 6-3 at the Hamburg Masters on Thursday to set up a quarter-final showdown with Argentine Guillermo Coria, the player he beat in last year’s final.

The Swiss world number one sprayed winners all over to record his sixth win in as many meetings with Spaniard Robredo and signal his return to peak form.

Coria produced some sublime shots in his 6-4, 6-3 win over Mario Ancic, earning applause even from his Croatian opponent when a devastating backhand down the line brought him victory. ‘‘I’ve got my confidence back,’’ said 10th seed Coria, a loser to Spanish teenager Rafael Nadal in the finals of both the Monte Carlo and Rome Masters on clay this past month.

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Britain’s Tim Henman and Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero, meanwhile, suffered demoralising defeats.

Fifth seed Henman, a surprise semi-finalist at Roland Garros last year, lost 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 to Argentine Juan Ignacio Chela while 2003 French Open champion Ferrero went down 3-6, 6-2, 6-1 to Russian Nikolay Davydenko. Henman’s game fell apart on centre court after a controversial line call at 4-4 in the second set.