However, regardless of his progress from now, after an emotional day on centre court, Rafter will be known forever as the last man to beat Boris Becker at Wimbledon.

That honor was supposed to have belonged to Pete Sampras, who beat Becker here in 1997. Having decided he wanted to a more fitting farewell, Becker came back this year and fought bravely through three rounds - saving three points in his first-round encounter with England's Miles Maclagan - before meeting his match today.

Mark Philippoussis also won his fourth-round match, beating ``Englishman" Greg Rusedski 2-6, 7-6, 6-3, 6-1. That means Australia will have two men in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon for the first time since Peter McNamara and Rod Frawley made the last eight in 1981.

In Rafter, Becker met a man with younger legs, more incisive strokes and, almost from the start, just too much game. So the tumultuous ending he had craved instead came rather anti-climactically when his backhand half-volley limped wide of the line, ending a one-sided match 6-3, 6-2, 6-3.

Seemingly disappointed with his performance, Becker took his time acknowledging the crowd, simply packing his bag and not raising his arms in response to their standing ovation until he was half-way off the court. It seemed a low-key exit for the man who had played seven finals here.

``I wish I could have given him a better match," said Becker, who confirmed this would be his farewell performance. ``I left my serve at home, I don't know where. I had no timing on my serve, almost throughout the whole match. I played some off my first serve, but he played incredible ... from my point it was unfortunate I was unable to give him and the crowd a better match for my last match, but he outplayed me today and it's time for me to go."

While some had believed Becker might even launch a run at a fourth title after three thrilling early victories, the three-time champion for the first time met a man whose serve-and-volley game had now exceeded his own.

Although he believes Rafter may be making a mistake by playing doubles here, Becker gives the Australian a good chance of going all the way.

``But you have other players, especially Pete Sampras, in the way," said Becker.

``(Rafter) had to win Wimbledon to be No.1 and we'll see in the next few days if he is good enough to do it. But from his potential here he definitely has the game to win Wimbledon."

Rafter will now play eighth-seeded American Todd Martin who caused something of an upset when he beat Goran Ivanisevic 7-6, 6-3, 6-4, while Philippoussis meets top seed Pete Sampras (an easy 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 winner over Canadian Daniel Nestor) in a repeat of their quarter-final last year which the American won in straight sets.

Philippoussis' victory was yet another demonstration of his ability to endure tough matches, although it seemed his opponent was hampered by an injury. After losing the third set Rusedski took a toilet break, and later received treatment from a trainer on his right hamstring and calf while trailing 0-3 in the fourth set.

What had been billed as a battle of two of the game's biggest serves instead revealed a new dimension to Philippoussis' game - a greater ability to pick his shots from the ground.

The Victorian had constantly said it was not merely his serve that had improved in the two years since he had last played Rusedski - he lost - and having endured the second set tie-break he took total control of the match, breaking Rusedski four times in the last two sets to move into the last eight.

This time Philippoussis thinks he has the self-belief and the improving game to see it through.

``I'm looking forward to it,'' he said. ``I'll be relaxed out there.

``Obviously people expect him to win so it's always good going into a match like that.

``To be honest, last year I just didn't have that self-belief that I could beat him and just today I felt ... there is no reason why I can't go all the way.''

``I'm playing very solid at the moment which is helping me through the matches, but it's not like I'm playing on top of my game.''