Tennis:World number two Roger Federer had one foot in the grave before rediscovering his touch to down Germany's Tommy Haas 6-7 5-7 6-4 6-0 6-2 and reach the quarter-finals of the French Open today.
The 27-year-old Swiss, chasing the only grand slam title to have eluded him, was two sets and 3-4 down facing a break point when he recovered to hold serve and went on to win eight games in a row.
He broke in the fifth and seventh games of the decider and never looked back, wrapping up victory on his second match point after three hours seven minutes.
Federer, hot favourite to win the title after world number one and four-times champion Rafael Nadal was defeated last night, will next face either France's Gael Monfils or American Andy Roddick.
Serena Williams is also through to the last eight of the women’s draw following a straight sets win over 24th seed Aleksandra Wozniak.
Williams, the 2002 champion, claimed a resounding 6-1 6-2 victory to set up a meeting with seventh seed Svetlana Kuznetsova, who overcame a scare to oust Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland 6-4 1-6 6-1.
Wozniak, 21, was making her first ever fourth-round appearance at a Grand Slam and she was broken in her first service game, when Williams set up three break points with a pinpoint crosscourt forehand before bludgeoning a backhand winner down the line.
Williams, bidding for her 11th Grand Slam singles title and third in a row, moved her opponent around the court with embarrassing ease, encountering little resistance as she broke again before wrapping up the first set with a unstoppable smash.
Wozniak's efforts to force her way back into the match earned her applause from an encouraging Court Philippe Chatrier crowd and she threatened an unlikely comeback by breaking back at 4-1 down in the second set.
The Canadian's feathery serve, though, was a constant source of frustration to her and the second seed took full advantage, breaking three times as she cruised into her sixth French Open quarter-final.
Kuznetsova found life much tougher against Radwanska, her expansive game bringing more winners but plenty of unforced errors.
She needed to break the Pole twice to win the first set but Radwanska hit back strongly to level the match, breaking the Russian's serve twice as she recorded just a single unforced error.
However, Kuznetsova raised her game in the decider, breaking twice early on to lead 4-0 before wrapping up the set in just 33 minutes.
Williams is now looking forward to facing the seventh seed and believes she will face a tough test.
Svetlana is playing unbelievable on clay and playing really good in this tournament," said the American.
"I feel like I have nothing to lose. She's coming here with high expectations, as am I, and I think it'll be a great match."