ROGER INTO QUARTERS

The world number one has competed in only two tournaments this season after a bout of glandular fever, but he barely broke sweat in beating Mahut.

Federer hit nine aces and won 23 out of 24 points on his first serve and will now meet Croat Ivan Ljubicic.

Earlier Argentina's David Nalbandian came from two points from defeat to overcome Radek Stepanek.

Seventh seed Nalbandian recovered from winning only 10 points in the second set to come through 7-6 0-6 7-6.

Nalbandian was serving at 3-5, 0-30 in the third when he began his comeback and won on his fourth match point.

Federer suffered a surprise loss in the second round last year to Argentina's Guillermo Canas, having won at Indian Wells for three years in a row from 2004.