The prospect of an eighth title at Wimbledon is getting closer for Roger Federer. The Swiss swept Steve Johnson aside to reach the last eight. Elsewhere, German Angelique Kerber is through after a straight sets win. Roger Federer advanced to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon for the 14th time, beating American Steve Johnson 6-2, 6-3 7-5 with relative ease on Centre Court. Federer has now equalled Martina Navratilova ́s record of 306 grand slam singles victories. The competition has opened up for the Swiss, with 17 major titles to his name, following the exit of Novak Djokovic on Saturday at the hands of Sam Querrey. The third seed, a seven-time champion at the All England Club, was expected to face the Serbian in the last four, but now has an excellent chance of marching through his side of the draw into the final. Johnson, the world number 29, has never gone beyond the last 16 stage at a Grand Slam and had no answer to Federer's peerless serving. The 34-year-old Federer has not dropped a set yet in this year ́s tournament and will take on Marin Cilic in the quarters. The ninth seeded booked his date with Federer after Japanese fifth seed Kei Nishikori was forced to withdraw from their match after a recurrence of his rib problem. In a repeat of the 2014 US Open final won by the Croatian, Cilic led 6-1, 5-1 before the tie was brought to a premature close. "It was too much pain, I could not really compete today. Every point I played it got worse. I did not want to but I had to retire," Nishikori said at a media conference. Cilic is in the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the third consecutive year and defeated Federer two years ago on his way to his Flushing Meadows triumph. Kerber keeps focus German fourth seed Angelique Kerber has progressed to the women's quarterfinals after dispatching Japan's Misaki Doi 6-3, 6-1 on Court Two. The Australian Open champion has only managed to reach the last-eight stage at Wimbledon twice before in her career, but weathered an early battle with Doi to break twice in the first set. Kerber was dumped out in the first round at the French Open, but looked back in the mood on the south London grass in a ferociously competitive encounter against her 1.59 meter rookie opponent. Fourth seed Kerber will meet fifth seed Simona Halep in the quarterfinals, the Romanian defeating the German in three of their previous four meetings. Dominika Cibulkova also won through. Defending champion Serena Williams is in action later against 13th seed Svetlana Kuznetsova as she pushes towards a 22nd major title.
