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Lindsay Davenport ended Kim Clijsters' Wimbledon bid with a three-set victory in a match which lived up to its headline billing on fourth-round day.

The top seed emerged a 6-3 6-7 (4-7) 6-3 winner in a see-saw match which was the best of the tournament so far on the women's side.

Davenport's powerful serve was in good working order from the off and that facet helped her to take the first set.

However, Clijsters hit back in a tight second.

Davenport was unable to convert a match point when Clijsters served at 4-5 and the Belgian then forced a tie-break in which she was clearly the better player.

It appeared as if that might be crucial - Davenport has not reacted well to squandering leads in the past - but instead the 1999 champion gained the upper hand in the decider, pushing the ball into the corners at every opportunity.

She soon led 5-2 and clinched victory when Clijsters prodcued three double faults in a shocking ninth game which was a disappointing way to end what was a fine match.

Next up for Davenport will be a clash with US Open champion Svetlana Kuznetsova who beat Magdalena Maleeva 6-4 6-3.

Meanwhile, two-time former champion Venus Williams took revenge for her sister's defeat to Jill Craybas.

Serena had lost to the unseeded American on Saturday, but Venus had no problems as she surged to a 6-0 6-2 victory to set up a meeting with Mary Pierce.

Pierce had become the first player into the quarter-finals when she brushed aside Flavia Pennetta 6-3 6-1 earlier in the day.

Title favourite Maria Sharapova waltzed through to the quarter-finals with a 6-4 6-2 victory over Nathalie Dechy.

She next faces fellow Russian Nadia Petrova who came through an epic clash with Kveta Peschke, winning 6-7 7-6 6-3, saving two match points along the way.

However, Sharapova had a warning for her compatriot.

"I'm getting better and better," she said. "Technique-wise I didn't think there was a big need for improvement but I think experience-wise and confidence-wise I manage things a lot better (now).

"I know it will get tougher round by round but after I've played I basically forget for the rest of the day about tennis and just relax."

Anastasia Myskina also saved two match points in her match against Elena Dementieva which she eventually took 1-6 7-6 (11-9) 7-5.

The former French Open champion stood on the brink in the second-set tie-break but stood firm to set up a meeting with third seed Amelie Mauresmo.

A semi-finalist on her previous two visits, Mauresmo thrashed Elena Likhovtseva 6-4 6-0.

The French star has dropped just 15 games in four matches so far at the championships.

That contrasts with Myskina's stats which show she has been on court for over nine hours in reaching the last eight.

In the men's singles,

Defending champion Roger Federer put out Spain's Juan Carlos Ferrero in straight-sets 6-3 6-4 7-6 (8-6) to remain on course for a hat-trick of Wimbledon titles.

Ominously for the rest, after his victory Federer also marked the various parts of his game and supplied a tick in all the appropriate boxes.

"I'm serving really consistent," said Federer. "My movement is pretty good as well. I wish I could serve and volley more.

"Last year I played better than expected but my goal this year is Wimbledon and being number one in the world. I have lots of dreams left to chase.

"I always try to show the people I can do it over and over again. I'm really happy how I've handled the pressure over the last few years and today I played a really solid match."

The holder's next opponent will be world number 24 Fernando Gonzalez, who beat Russian Mikhail Youzhny 7-6 7-6 6-3 to become the first Chilean to reach the last eight since Ricardo Acuna in 1985.

The 24-year-old Gonzalez made it in style, too, having not lost a set in any of his four matches.

The man from Santiago, who won a gold medal at the Athens Olympics, said: "I talked the other day with Ricardo Acuna. I hope that we don't have to wait 20 more years to have another one in the quarters."

Earlier Feliciano Lopez's Wimbledon charge continued with a straight-sets win over title outsider Mario Ancic.

Lopez, previous conqueror of Marat Safin, leapt upon Ancic's misfiring serve to breeze past last year's surprise semi-finalist 6-4 6-4 6-2 and reach the last eight.

Ancic, tipped up by many experts, including Michael Stich, produced 15 double faults to aid his Spanish opponent who will now meet third seed Lleyton Hewitt.

"I played at my best today," said Lopez.

"I just want to play in the next round as well as I did today. For sure it is going to be a tough match. He is one of the best players in the world."

Hewitt saw off the dangerous Taylor Dent in a three-hour battle.

The Australian star blew two mtach points in the third set when he looked set to wrap up a straight-sets win, but eventually triumphed 6-4 6-4 6-7 (7-9) 6-3.

Hewitt was happy enough afterwards though, admitting: "I feel my game's gone up another notch or two, which it needed to.

"I am hitting the ball well. He started off tentatively and it was good to get that first set under my belt. From then on, I felt I was in control of the match."

Andy Roddick was another big name to progress safely into the quarters.

As expected, the second seed held off Guillermo Coria, beating the claycourt specialist 6-3 7-6 (7-1) 6-4.

There were also comfortable wins for Andrew Murray's conqueror David Nalbandian and Thomas Johansson of Sweden.

Nalbandian beat another teenager Richard Gasquet in straight sets, while Johnasson ended the hopes of Max Mirnyi, also winning in three sets.

The pair now play each other in the next round.

Ninth seed Sebastien Grosjean was given plenty to think about by Dmitry Tursunov, before prevailing in five, titanic sets.

The Frenchman was never behind in the match, but had to call on all his experience to repel the rampaging Russian.

Last year's semi-finalist eventually came through 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 6-3 3-6 6-1 after an absorbing encounter.