Top seed Federer strolls, Davydenko exits

By Mark Lamport-Stokes

INDIAN WELLS, California (Reuters) - Russia's Nikolay Davydenko became the highest seed to exit the Pacific Life Open but Roger Federer barely broke sweat in reaching the fourth round on Tuesday.

Davydenko, the fourth seed, was swept aside by American Mardy Fish 6-3 6-2 in an evening match lasting 75 minutes on the showpiece Stadium Court.

Fish, who lost to the Russian in their only previous career meeting, will next meet twice winner Lleyton Hewitt of Australia who recovered from a slow start to beat Russia's Mikhail Youzhny 7-5 6-4.

Crowd favorite and top seed Federer, a three-times champion at Indian Wells and back in action after recovering from illness, outclassed Mahut in only 53 minutes.

"I enjoy matches like this," the Swiss world number one told reporters after setting up a fourth-round clash with Croat Ivan Ljubicic who upset 15th-seeded Tommy Robredo 6-3 6-4.

"Having the sensation like I had today toward the end of the second set when you feel everything's going your way, you've got his game perfectly figured out and everything you're trying to do sort of works as well, it's just a good feeling.

"I was really happy to break that often and I had no problems whatsoever on my own serve," added the 26-year-old after unleashing nine aces and winning 23 out of 24 points on his first serve. "It was a perfect match really for me."

Federer, who had competed in only two tournaments this season after succumbing to glandular fever, broke Mahut twice to sweep through the opening set.