By Chris Oddo

(August 2, 2012) -- In the past, for many reasons, Olympic tennis has always been the perfect venue for a surprise titlist -- think Marc Rosset or Nicolas Massu, two lower-tier players who came from out of nowhere to win Olympic gold in recent years.

But that trend appears to be changing in 2012, as this year's top-heavy men’s singles field has proven itself too strong to allow for any surprise element to take hold.

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic each won in straight sets against dangerous, hard-serving opponents today, increasing the possibility that the final will feature the top two seeds for the first time since tennis was reinstated at the Olympic Games in 1988.

Federer’s 6-4, 7-6(5) victory over American John Isner was tense for the duration, but the always unflappable Federer took advantage of relatively few opportunities to gain the upper hand in each set.

In the first set, Federer capitalized on his third break point opportunity in the ninth game when Isner sailed a forehand long. Isner would have a chance to break back in the very next game, but Federer snuffed out the opportunity to take the set.

It was more of the same in the second, with each player holding serve with relative ease until the tiebreak. The pair traded mini-breaks in the tiebreak, and Federer would see his first match point with Isner serving at 5-6.

From there—not that the 17-time Grand Slam champion would ever need it—luck intervened.

Federer chipped a low return of a typically thunderous Isner serve that clipped the net cord and dribbled over the tape for a not-so-clean winner and a spot in the medal round for the Swiss for the first time since 2000.

“It’s nice to be in the medal round,” said Federer afterwards. “I’ve been there before in 2000, lost both matches against Haas and Di Pasquale, so I obviously hope I can at least do one better this time.”

As far as the lucky let cord that saw Federer through on match point against Isner, Federer will take it. “Of course I got very lucky at match point, we don’t even need to discuss that,” he said with a wry smile.

Djokovic, meanwhile, ensured that luck would not play a part in his quarterfinal with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, as he took the play to the Frenchman for the better part of his 6-1, 7-5 triumph.

Djokovic attacked the Frenchman’s usually invincible serve relentlessly, hitting on four of thirteen break points. “I started off really sharp and going for my shots,” said Djokovic. “I think the return was a key because his biggest weapon is a serve.”

After serving out the first set in 32 minutes, Djokovic’s level did drop a bit. Tsonga broke the Serb's opening service game, when Djokovic netted an easy forehand, but the fifth-seed couldn’t sustain the pressure, as he allowed Djokovic to break back immediately.

Still, Tsonga pushed things to 5-5 before finally yielding when Djokovic converted his second break point of the game by knocking a forehand volley into the open court.

The 2008 bronze medalist served out the match to reach his second consecutive medal round, and now readies himself for the challenge of facing the home favorite, Andy Murray, in the semis.

“He’s a home hero, he played the finals of Wimbledon, and we are all aware of his qualities on all the surfaces,” said Djokovic. “I think he’s been playing better than ever.”

Murray jumped all over the last Spaniard standing in the draw today, putting forth what was perhaps the most impressive serving performance of his career to dismantle a less-than-100 percent Nicolas Almagro 6-4, 6-1. The World No. 4 walloped 15 aces and managed a first-serve percentage of 81 percent while not facing a single break point against the eleventh seed, who sought treatment for a shoulder injury during the match.

“From my side of the court, I played solid on serve,” said Murray. In the second set, he was struggling with his serve. He obviously had a problem with his shoulder.”

In the other men’s quarterfinal Juan Martin del Potro came through with a 6-4, 7-6(4) win against Kei Nishikori. Del Potro will face Roger Federer in the semis. The Argentine defeated Federer in the 2009 US Open final but is 2-12 lifetime against him and has lost all five of their encounters this year.

(Photo Credit: Getty)