Switzerland's Roger Federer returns against France's Richard Gasquet during their men's singles second round match on the fourth day of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2021. (AELTC / BEN SOLOMON / POOL / AFP)

LONDON - Swiss great Roger Federer and world No 2 Daniil Medvedev of Russia both advanced into the men's singles third round at Wimbledon in straight sets on Thursday.

Roger Federer will meet Britain's Cameron Norrie in the last 32, after the 29th seed breezed past Australia's Alex Bolt in straight sets

Federer, 39, needed to win a tiebreak to take the opening set against France's Richard Gasquet, but made his way easier later by winning the following two sets 6-1, 6-4.

The eight-time Wimbledon champion came to this year's tournament as the sixth seed. He was forced to play a deciding set in his first round match on Tuesday, but ended up winning without playing to the end, as opponent Adrian Mannarino from France injured his knee after a slip.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner said he played much better on Thursday and ranked his performance in the top three since his return in 2021.

"What I was able to do today gives you a lot of confidence," said Federer. "You can start to play so much more freely."

Federer will meet Britain's Cameron Norrie in the last 32, after the 29th seed breezed past Australia's Alex Bolt in straight sets.

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Russia's Daniil Medvedev returns to Spain's Carlos Alcaraz during their men's singles second round match on the fourth day of the 2021 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 1, 2021. (BEN STANSALL / AFP)

Federer has been a crowd favorite at Wimbledon for years but was ready to face a mixed reaction while facing a player from the host nation.

"I never really walk out and expect everybody to be for me," said Federer. "To be honest, I'm a little bit the same. Sometimes I like the underdog. You know how it is. You want to see a close match, too. It does go in phases. When you see another guy hit great shots, I hope they applaud the guy. You want the atmosphere to be there."

Federer spent less than two hours on court to finish his second-round match, while Medvedev needed only one hour and 35 minutes to beat Spanish teenager Carlos Alcaraz 6-4, 6-1, 6-2.

Fourth seed Alexander Zverev of Germany also took victory in straight sets, seeing off America's Tennys Sandgren 7-5, 6-2, 6-3.

In the women's singles, Australia's world No 1 Ashleigh Barty defeated Anna Blinkova from Russia 6-4, 6-3, while two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka of Belarus was ousted by Romania's Sorana Cirstea in three sets.