Enqvist saw off a late challenge from the big-hitting 14th seed and US Open finalist to win their three-hour fourth-round match 6-2 6-4 6-7 4-6 6-2. `Scud' Philippoussis's defeat on Centre Court ended local hopes that an Australian would win the title for the first time in 23 years.

Enqvist had defeated the other Australian hope, US Open champion Pat Rafter in the third round. Slovakia's Karol Kucera had a 96-minute stroll in the park compared with the Enqvist-Philippoussis battle as he outclassed unseeded South African Wayne Ferreira 6-3, 6-1, 7-5.

In the women's singles, world number one Lindsay Davenport underlined her status as title favourite with a resounding 6-1, 6-3 thumping of Canadian qualifier Maureen Drake to set up a quarter-final clash with aggressive fifth seed Venus Williams. Williams was made to work a little harder by fellowAmerican Chanda Rubin but triumphed 7-6, 6-4.

Meanwhile Anna Kournikova and Martina Hingis, the double darlings of court one, outlasted Jana Novotna and Monica Seles to move into the women's doubles quarterfinals.

The number three seeds battled to a 7-6 (11-9) 6-3 victory.

They will now play the unseeded pairing of America's Nicole Arendt and Manon Bollegraf of the Netherlands who knocked out the 15th seeds, Sabine Applemans of Belgium and Mirium Oremans of Holland 6-2, 6-3.

In other women's doubles action today, second seeds Lisa Raymond and Rennae Stubbs put out Barbara Schett and Patty Schnyder, seeded 10th.

HOW THE SEEDS FARED (Prefix denotes seeding)

Men singles (4th round): 7-Karol Kucera (Slo) bt Wayne Ferreira (SA) 6-3 6-1 7-5; Thomas Enqvist (Swe) bt 14-Mark Philippoussis (Aus) 6-2 6-4 6-7 (3-7) 4-6 6-2.

Women singles (4th round): 1-Lindsay Davenport (US) bt Maureen Drake (Can) 6-1 6-3; 5-Venus Williams (US) bt Chanda Rubin (US) 7-6 (7-3) 6-4; 11-DominiqueVan Roost (Bel) bt Maria Antonia Sanchez Lorenzo (Spa) 6-2 6-3.

Other Fourth Round Results

Men: Nicolas Lapentti (Ecu) bt Andrew Ilie (Aus) 6-4 6-2 4-6 6-2; Marc Rosset (Swi) bt Bohdan Ulihrach (Cze) 6-3 6-4 6-2.

Women: Amelie Mauresmo (Fra) bt Emilie Loit (Fra) 6-0 7-5.