Defending champion Roger Federer swept into the fourth round at Wimbledon with a 6-2, 6-4, 6-2 win over France’s Arnaud Clement on Friday.

Federer had dropped three sets during unusually sloppy displays against unheralded pair Alejandro Falla and Ilija Bozoljac in the previous two rounds at the All England Club.

But the Swiss top seed was back in the groove on Centre Court as he gave a sublime display to set up a clash with Austrian 16th seed Jurgen Melzer at the start of next week.

“I’ve had a tough first week,” Federer said. “It’s been tough mentally but I’m excited I’m still in the tournament rather than watching Wimbledon from the couch at home. I hope I can go further.”

Clement, a finalist at the Australian Open in 2001, clearly knows how to play on grass after reaching the quarter-finals in the singles once and winning the men’s doubles title in 2007.

But at 32 his best days are behind him and Federer was able to exploit the world number 86’s lack of power and speed right from the start.

After those off-key displays in the first two rounds, Federer seemed determined to seize the momentum as soon as possible and he broke Clement in the first game of the match.

Another break followed soon after as Federer opened up a 4-1 lead before serving out the first set.

By his own high standards 2010 has been a disappointing year for Federer, who has failed to win any of his seven tournaments since beating Andy Murray in the Australian Open final in January.

Federer’s run of 23 successive Grand Slam semi-final appearances was snapped at the French Open and he even lost for just the second time in 78 matches on grass when Lleyton Hewitt beat him in the final at Halle earlier this month.

But now it was as if Federer’s previous struggles had been nothing more than a particularly bad dream for the world number two.

He was back to his commanding best and took an even firmer hold on the match by breaking Clement in the first game of the second set.

Clement, who had lost his last six meetings with Federer stretching back to 2001, wasn’t exactly helping himself as he missed several easy volleys.

Not that Federer needs much help to get the job done in this mood.

He finished off the second set with a flurry of perfectly-placed serves and then set about wrapping up the match in the third set.

The six-time champion was unstoppable as he reeled off a series of almost contemptuous winners to break twice and book his place in the last 16 in one hour and 35 minutes.