WHETHER she wins or loses in Wimbledon, Dinara Safina’s name will be popping up in pub quizzes for years to come.

The top seed survived a big scare to advance to the women’s quarter-finals in a historic encounter at the All England Club.

In the first-ever match played beneath Centre Court’s new £80m retractable roof, Safina looked to be heading out after being broken early in the deciding set by 2006 champion Amelie Mauresmo.

But she staged a fighting comeback to advance 4-6 6-3 6- 4 in an entertaining and engaging match that will never be erased from the record books.

“It was a really tough match and I needed to bring my best tennis to beat her,” said Safina, who has lost two Grand Slam finals this year.

“I was really disappointed with how I was playing but then I started to go for my shots and it started to happen for me.

“It was a lovely atmosphere playing under the roof and the crowd sounded much louder.”

Earlier Roger Federer again got the better of Robin Soderling to smoothly maintain his winning momentum.

The second seed advanced to the quarter-finals with another efficient display, progressing 6-4 7-6 7-6 in just under two hours.

Soderling has come of age in recent weeks and followed up on his win over Rafael Nadal at the French Open to reach a first Grand Slam final, which he lost in straight sets to Federer.

He won more games yesterday than at Roland Garros – 16 to 11 – but the gulf in class was still there for all to see and when the big points came, Federer shone. And ominously he believes he’s rarely felt better.

“I thought my first week was great and I’m playing well,” said Federer.

“I’m nice and relaxed on court and there is no sign of panic that I might have had six months ago, when I was feeling uneasy with my game.

“I’m moving well, serving well and my rhythm from the baseline is great.”

Reigning women’s champion Venus Williams is also feeling good – in stark contrast to fourth round opponent Ana Ivanovic.

It’s been a nightmare twelve months for Ivanovic.

Last year she arrived at Wimbledon as the French Open champion and newly-installed world number one – and not much as gone right since.

Since then she has not reached a Grand Slam quarter- final and has slid back down the rankings to world number 13, changing her coach twice in the process.

Venus took the first set in just 30 minutes, dropping just one game in a controlled display of power tennis that has become her trademark.

Ivanovic then seemed to aggravate an injury and called the trainer to the court to receive treatment on an apparent thigh problem.

She won the first game of the second set before beckoning Williams to the net and retiring.

It seems her only rival to a third consecutive Wimbledon title is sister Serena, who beat Daniela Hantuchova in straight sets, and her own dodgy knees, which were again strapped up yesterday.

■ Leading life assurance and pensions company AEGON is lead partner of British Tennis and is backing the sport at all levels, from grassroots to world class tennis events. For further information visit www.lta.org.uk