Roger Federer was heading on to a final encounter against the defending champion Rafael Nadal at Monte Carlo Masters Series as the world number 1-2 both advanced to the quarterfinals on Thursday.

The Swiss, who arrived at Monte Carlo with back-to-back defeats by Argentine Guillermo Canas in Miami and Indian Wells, eased past South Korean Lee Huyng-taik 6-4, 6-3 in 64 minutes.

With the third round victory, Federer, who has 10 Grand Slams to his name but has yet to win the French Open, set up an quarterfinal tie with claycourt specialist David Ferrer.

Spaniard Nadal, who extended his record winning streak on clay to 64 matches, took 62 minutes to demolish Belgian Kristof Vliegen 6-1, 6-1 for a quarters matchup against German qualifier Philipp Kohlschreiber, who beat another qualifier, Guillermo Garcia Lopez of Spain, 5-7, 7-6, 7-6.

In the day's other play, former French Open champion Juan Carlos Ferrero of Spain defeated Russian Igor Andreev 6-3, 6-3 and will take on Frenchman Richard Gasquet in quarters after the latter battled two hours and 50 minutes to see off Croatian seventh seed Ivan Ljubicic 6-3, 6-7, 7-5.

Czech prospect Tomas Berdych and Sweden's Robin Soederling also advanced to set up last-eight clash against each other.

Editor: Donald