Roger Federer Survives Five Set Scare

5 months ago 02nd Jun 11:26

Roger Federer had to battle back from two sets down to clinch a spot in the quarter finals as it looked like a second upset in as many days was on the cards.

Facing the unseeded Tommy Haas world number two Federer, who is looking for his first French Open title, started strongly and the German was unable to get a handle on the Swiss players serve.

But Haas didn't appear fazed by the occasion or his opponent as he too served well in the first set clinching it in the tie break as Federer's level dropped.

But Federer was back in control at the beginning of the second going up a break but his focus once again deserted him and his forehand began to fail as the big hitting Haas broke back toward the business end of the set to seal a 2-0 lead.

The third was a hard fought affair and as Haas didn't take advantage of the break points that came his way at 3-4 which would have left his serving for the match. Federer took the third.

As Haas got tight and started making errors Federer breezed through the fourth to take it to a fifth and deciding set. He was untroubled as Haas' challenge faded and Federer's hope of winning in Paris remained alive as he clinched the match 6-7 (4-7) 5-7 6-4 6-0 6-2, but only just.

He will now play home favourite Gael Monfils in the quarterfinals as he saw off American Andy Roddick in straight sets 6-4 6-2 6-3.

The flamboyant Frenchman will be a real threat to Federer in that match playing some fantastic tennis over the past week as well as having the advantage of home support.

Joe Wilfred Tsonga was the other French player in action yesterday as he took on fifth seed Juan Martin Del Potro, who has quietly crept through the draw.

Tsonga looked out of sorts in the first set as Del Potro powered to a 6-1 lead to seal the set before Tsonga fought back to level the match.

But he couldn't sustain the momentum as Del Potro powered forward to take the third 6-1 before wrapping up the match 6-1 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 6-4.

He will now play Spain's Tommy Robredo as he saw off Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4 5-7 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 for a play in the semi-final.

Although Federer remains the favourite to win the title on Sunday with Nadal out of the way it is the most open tournament for years with all the players in the draw having the potential of denying Federer once again.

On the women's side there was a shock for fifth seed and former number one Jelena Jankovic, who has looked in great form at the tournament, as she was knocked out by teenager Soran Cirstea.

Jankovic looked in control as she took the first set 6-3 but her game unravelled as she called the trainer on to look at a foot problem, losing the second 6-0.

But she managed to regain her composure as she served for the set at 5-4. But Cirstea had other ideas as she held off the challenge from the higher ranked player before coming through 9-7 in the final set.

There were no such problems for second seed Serena Williams as she powered her way past Aleksandra Wozniak 6-1 6-2.