The main event of the day proved something of a damp squib as top seed Federer, gunning for a fifth consecutive title at Wimbledon, dismantled hulking Russian Safin 6-1 6-4 7-6 on Centre Court.
The Swiss lost his last grand slam clash against Safin in a memorable semi-final at the Australian Open in 2005 but he dished out ruthless vengeance here with a masterly display.
Federer said after his 51st consecutive victory: ‘I don't know if I played phenomenal, I just think I played the right way against Marat today.
‘I get very nervous before a match like this.
‘We've had some incredible battles down the years. He's a hell of a player.’
Federer's next victim, barring a huge shock, will be Germany's Tommy Haas, who beat Russian Dmitry Tursunov.
Serb Janko Tipsarevic repelled everything Chilean fifth seed Fernando Gonzalez could throw at him to reach the last 16 of a grand slam for the first time.
World number 64 Tipsarevic has a Dostoyevsky quotation tattooed on to his arm, wears an eyebrow stud and plays with red strings in his racket but it was his tennis everybody was talking about after a 6-3 3-6 6-4 4-6 8-6 defeat of Gonzalez.
The frustrated Chilean squandered a match point at 6-5 in the deciding set but ‘Tipsy’ as he was nicknamed by the enthralled Wimbledon crowd deserved his victory for sheer fortitude.
Third seed Andy Roddick is the sole nephew of Uncle Sam in the men's singles after beating Spain's Fernando Verdasco 6-3 6-4 7-6.
He was left alone after ninth seed James Blake was beaten by resurgent Spaniard Juan Carlos Ferrero 3-6 6-3 6-3 7-6.
It was another good day for the French. Paul-Henri Mathieu upset 15th seed Ivan Ljubicic, wildcard Jo-Wilfried Tsonga beat Feliciano Lopez and 12th seed Richard Gasquet continued his smooth progress against compatriot Edouard Roger-Vasselin.
Mens Singles Round 3: (3) Andy Roddick (USA) bt Fernando Verdasco (Spa) 6-3 6-4 7-6 (7-2), (13) Tommy Haas (Ger) bt (21) Dmitry Tursunov (Rus) 1-6 6-4 7-6 (7-5) 6-4, (1) Roger Federer (Swi) bt (26) Marat Safin (Rus) 6-1 6-4 7-6 (7-4), (20) Juan Carlos Ferrero (Spa) bt (9) James Blake (USA) 3-6 6-3 6-3 7-6 (7-4), (12) Richard Gasquet (Fra) bt Edouard Roger-Vasselin (Fra) 6-3 6-4 6-2, Paul-Henri Mathieu (Fra) bt (15) Ivan Ljubicic (Cro) 4-6 7-5 6-2 6-3, Janko Tipsarevic (Ser) bt (5) Fernando Gonzalez (Chi) 6-3 3-6 6-3 4-6 8-6, Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (Fra) bt Feliciano Lopez (Spa) 6-3 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 .
