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The year's Wimbledon hierarchy was boldly reasserted Wednesday by the resounding victories of Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal.

Finalists the past two years, Federer and Nadal could hardly have been more impressive in straight-set wins over Mario Ancic and Andy Murray, respectively.

On a day on which the start of play was delayed by light rain and soon interrupted for more than two hours by more precipitation, Federer defeated Ancic 6-1, 7-5, 6-4 in 1 hour 41 minutes, freeing the Centre Court stage for Nadal's quarter-final with British favourite Andy Murray.

Grandly hyped as the Battle of the Bulge in The Sun newspaper – with a picture of Murray flexing his bicep after his Monday win over Richard Gasquet juxtaposed with Nadal's famously muscular upper arm – it was really never a contest as the Spaniard put on an awesome exhibition of concussive hitting in a 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 victory .

When Murray won a few points to keep the third set close, former player and current BBC commentator Andrew Castle said, “Crumbs, for the 21-year-old from Dunblane [Scotland], just crumbs.”

Nadal crushed the ball with such force, Castle was moved to declare, “It's not just the speed, it's the noise off the racquet that intimidates opponents.”

Murray, who did not manage a break point the entire match, fought to the bitter end and deserved the plaudit of a fan who shouted out before the final point, “You've had a great tournament, Murray.”

“He's taking the ball early, hitting it lower over the net,” Murray said of Nadal, “playing aggressive from the very first shot, which I don't think he necessarily did in the past. I felt rushed on pretty much every point.”

About Nadal's power, Murray added, “He swings his arm so hard at the ball. When you watch Federer play, it looks like it's sort of effortless power. With Nadal, you actually see how fast he moves the racquet through the air, the amount of spin and speed he generates. His forehand is the heaviest shot in tennis.”

Murray, who plans to play Indianapolis, the Rogers Cup in Toronto and Cincinnati starting the week of July 14, said of Nadal's chances in a potential final against Federer, “If he plays that well and returns like that, he's pretty close to being the favourite to win the tournament.”

Federer may have played before Nadal Wednesday, but it was as though he was saying, “I'll see your performance and raise you.” After the first four rounds, when he had not approached the level he has often displayed in winning the past five Wimbledons, Federer launched lashing service returns and passing shots that constantly had Ancic volleying off his shoe laces.

It took a resolute man to continue going to the net, which Ancic did 50 times in the match, winning the point just 21 times. More often than not, he was basically a sitting duck.

“You can't give him anything,” Ancic said. “Every point had to be perfectly done. I never saw him serving better.”

The win was Federer's 64th in a row on grass, and with it he has now reached his 17th consecutive Grand Slam semi-final. Ivan Lendl is a distant second with 10 in a row.

“I really feel like I'm playing as good as last few years,” said Federer, after a masterful showing with just six unforced errors and 40 winners.

His unlikely opponent in Friday's semi-final with be old rival Marat Safin, who defeated Feliciano Lopez 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (1), 6-3.

Safin, who has tumbled to No.75 in the rankings, cited the humbling experience of playing the qualifying for the Masters Series Hamburg (eventually winning two rounds in the main draw) in May. “I guess this tournament is the payoff for the Hamburg qualies,” he joked.

A three-set loser to Federer in the third round a year ago, Safin did not sound optimistic about his chances of success Friday. “To beat Federer you need to be Nadal and run around like a rabbit and hit winners from all over the place,” he said.

After Wednesday's performances, it appears only the rabbit himself is capable of doing that.