Roger Federer wins after Haas scare

The French Open almost saw its second major shock in as many days yesterday when Roger Federer, the former world No 1 and runner-up at Roland Garros for the last three years, went two sets down against Tommy Haas of Germany and threatened to join Rafael Nadal in being dumped out of this year's tournament.

The Swiss player, winner of 13 grand slams - but never this one - regrouped and eventually battled through 6-7 (4-7) 5-7 6-4 6-0 6-2. With Nadal gone from the draw Federer has his best chance yet of equalling Pete Sampras's record of 14 grand slams.

Meanwhile Andy Murray prepares for his first ever Paris quarter final knowing that the draw is as open as it has ever been at Roland Garros, and that if he overcomes the combative Chilean Fernando Gonzalez a place in the final and a chance for his first grand slam beckons.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING
Stephen Bierley, the Guardian: "After the seismic shock of Rafael Nadal, the four-times champion and world No1, losing to Sweden's Robin Soderling in the fourth round of the French Open, it seemed Roland Garros was about to be shaken by an aftershock of similar intensity today when Roger Federer, runner-up for the last three years, fell two sets behind against Tommy Haas of Germany. Pulses were checked and faces pinched hard, just in case the tournament had slipped into an Alice in Wonderland world of contradictory happenings."

Neil Harman, the Times: "From two sets down, from a break point down at 3-4 in the third, from the veritable precipice, Federer survived to defeat Tommy Haas, finishing off the 31-year-old German with a disdain that gratified both himself and the patrons of Court Philippe Chatrier, and will have earned the respect of his rival back home in Majorca, making tsunami-like waves in his swimming pool. Nadal would love to see Tommy Robredo, his occasional doubles partner, keep the title in Spanish hands, but he expects it to fall into those of Federer, who will play Gael Monfils, of France, tomorrow in a repeat of last year's semi-final."

Mark Hodgkinson, Daily Telegraph: "It was Federer's forehand that let him down for the best part of three sets. The same forehand that has helped to bring him 13 grand slam titles was all over the place on Court Philippe Chatrier. Over the years, the Parisian tennis public have become accustomed to the sight of Federer running around his backhand to play his forehand, but it reached the point where a few spectators must have wondered whether the Swiss should have been running around his forehand, and hitting as many balls as possible with his backhand."