Roger Federer battled back from a two-set deficit to keep his French Open dream alive with a five-set triumph over Tommy Haas.
New favourite comes from two sets down to progress
Roger Federer battled back from a two-set deficit to keep his French Open dream alive with a 6-7 (4-7) 5-7 6-4 6-0 6-2 triumph over Tommy Haas on Monday.
The world number two, who was installed as favourite to lift the crown following Rafael Nadal's shock exit on Sunday, will now face either Andy Roddick or Gael Monfils for a place in the semi-finals.
It was Federer's fifth career recovery from a two-set deficit and he did it for the second Grand Slam in succession after the Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych had been 2-0 ahead in the Australian Open fourth round.
But having seen four-time champion Nadal, the man who has beaten him in the last three finals, sensationally see a 31-game winning run at Roland Garros come to an end on Sunday, Federer came dangerously close to seeing his lifetime dream also evaporate.
Pivot
At two sets to the good, 31-year-old Haas had a break point in the eighth game of the third set which, had he seized it, would have given him the chance to serve for the match.
But Federer, who has not failed to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final since his third-round loss to Gustavo Kuerten in Paris in 2004, saved it with a forehand pass and the German began to wilt with the Swiss reeling off 14 of the last 16 games.
"Tommy played a great match, I struggled to get into the encounter," said the 13-time Grand Slam winner.
"When I hit that forehand to save a break point at 3-4 in the third, I had the feeling it could be a turning point in the match.
"After that, the atmosphere was great."
