Federer and Roddick on collision course

Roger Federer and Andy Roddick stayed firmly on course for what would be a titanic final in one week's time at Wimbledon.

The third Sunday action in Wimbledon history saw the two top men's seeds, Roger Federer and Andy Roddick stay firmly on course for what would be a titanic final in one week's time.

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Federer was imperious in dismissing Sweden's Thomas Johansson in straight sets on the Centre Court while Roddick outgunned Taylor Dent on No.1 Court in a battle of the American heavyweights.

Main threats to the big two, Tim Henman and Mark Philippoussis, also made it into the last 16, and they will go up against each other on Monday.

In the women's tournament, Jennifer Capriati and Amelie Mauresmo, both easily made it through to the last 16 as did the conquerer of Venus Williams, Croatia's Karolina Sprem.

Top seed and defending champion Federer set up a last 16 meeting with Croatian giant Ivo Karlovic when he outclassed Johansson in a third round tie.

Karlovic, who ousted defending champion Lleyton Hewitt of Australia in the first round last year, defeated Spain's Feliciano Lopez in four service-dominated sets.

Opening activities on what was only the third time in Wimbledon history that the middle Sunday had been used for play, Federer never looked in any danger and in three rounds he has lost just 19 games and has yet to be broken on serve.

"I thought today was a tough match and a test. The other two games were too easy with washouts in the third sets, but this was really tough and I had to focus hard and not be broken," said Federer.

"I am feeling very good, better than last year because I know now I can win this tournament."

Roddick, losing semi-finalist here last year to Federer and the No. 2 seed this time, maintained his supremacy over US contemporary Dent with a straight sets 6-3, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/1) win in a tie dominated by big serves.

The American let a match point slip away at 6-5 up but he dominated the decisive tie-break 7-1 ending it with another big serve.

Henman blew hot and cold against old rival Hicham Arazi of Morocco, going a break down in all four sets before winning 7-6 (8/6), 6-4, 3-6, 6-2.

It was a performance that had a youthful and noisy Sunday afternoon crowd at times despairing and at times jubilant.

And it will have to be a much more consistent Henman who shows up on Monday if he is to stun "The Scud."

"It was difficult out there. It was very swirly and the quality of the tennis was not always great, but you just have to find a way through it. I've given myself a chance," he said.

"I need to play a bit better (against Philippoussis) but I still fancy my chances."

A reborn Philippoussis came through against Chile's Fernando Gonzalez winning 6-4, 6-1, 6-7 (4/7), 6-4.

There were third round wins also for German youngster Florian Mayer against South African veteran Wayne Ferriera and for 2002 semi-finalist Xavier Malisse of Belgium in straight sets over Karol Beck of Slovakia.

Vincent Spadea ousted eighth seed Rainer Schuettler of Germany 6-4, 6-2, 6-3 whilst rising Croatian Mario Ancic defeated 25th seed Dominik Hrbaty of Slovakia 7-5, 6-3, 7-5.

Seventh seeded Capriati moved into the fourth round of the women's tournament with a 7-5, 6-1 win over Nathalie Dechy, the French 25th seed.

Capriati, who has never made it beyond the semi-final in 10 previous attempts, next faces Russian 10th seed Nadia Petrova who defeated in straight sets Tatiana Perebiynis of the Ukraine.

"It was a good win," she said. "The first set was a little bit tough but I stuck in there. it was a little bit of a test. Then I just really played well in the second set when I got going."

The 19-year-old Sprem, kept a cool head on her to win two tie-breaks against veteran American Meghann Shaughnessy and she next plays Bulgarian veteran Magdalena Maleeva for a place in the quarter-finals.

Also into the last 16 were Paola Suarez of Argentina and Rita Grande of Italy.