Thursday 23 October 2014 22:07, UK
Home favourite Roger Federer overcame a slow start to win through to the Swiss Indoors quarter-finals on Thursday.
The top seed triumphed 3-6 6-3 6-4 but was given a scare by opponent Denis Istomin, who secured a break to go 4-2 up in the first set and went on to take a shock lead over Federer.
However, the momentum finally went Federer's way when he broke in the second set to win 6-3, before he then went on to take the decider 6-4 to keep alive his bid to claim a sixth title at his hometown event.
Federer, who has been runner-up to Juan Martín del Potro for the last two years, said: “I don't know what happened, I just didn't get into the match very quickly. It was tough for me at the beginning.
"I was not really into the match, I was struggling with my forehand. I tried everything but it didn't work in the first set.
"But everything changed when I finally got the break in the second and was able to play more freely."
The Swiss will next face fifth seed Grigor Dimitrov, the Bulgarian having defeated Vasek Pospisil of Canada 6-2 6-2.
Canadian fourth seed Milos Raonic is also through to the last eight after a hard-fought 6-4 6-7 (5/7) 7-6 (7-2) victory over American Donald Young.
Croatian eighth seed Ivo Karlovic also progressed, coming from behind to beat Kenny De Schepper 6-7 (6/8) 6-4 6-3, while compatriot Borna Coric secured a break in each set to win 6-4 6-4 win against Andrey Golubev.
The reward for the teenager is a match against Rafael Nadal - his hero when he was growing up. Coric said: "He's an unbelievable tennis player. It's a privilege to play against him. I hope I can play the best I can and we'll see what happens."
Mikhail Kukushkin, who beat Australian Open champion Stan Wawrinka in the first round, was forced out of the tournament by injury. He had to retire with a shoulder injury at 0-4 in the final set, handing Germany’s Benjamin Becker a passage through to the last eight.
