TENNIS/Australian Open: The mantle of greatness does not sit on Roger Federer's shoulders for nothing. When Germany's Tommy Haas wiped out a two-set deficit against the world number one under the floodlights of the Rod Laver Arena he must have smelled blood.
The Swiss, under enormous pressure from the German's huge serve and wonderfully fluid backhand, was making an unusual number of mistakes. But he knew deep in his heart that Haas, whose career was all but ended three years ago by a serious shoulder injury, has rarely been capable of winning when it most mattered.
Federer, now with a record-breaking run of 49 consecutive hard-court wins to his name, cut out the errors and piled on the winners - 18 of them in the final set - to win 6-4, 6-0, 3-6, 4-6, 6-2.
It was spellbinding tennis of the highest quality, and anybody who prevents him winning here will have to play to a standard they have never previously reached. "The way he played in the fifth set," said Haas, "you've just got to tip your hat and say, 'Unbelievable'."
Federer said: "I'm happy with the way I played tonight. I thought the first two sets I played perfect tennis but after that he played pretty good.
"It was a pity I couldn't close it out in three but I'm happy with the way I played in the end and it's a good feeling to have.
"I was never really too nervous to be honest - I just tried to focus on my own service games. He was the guy who had to react and work. I was two sets up and never really close to losing. I just thought if I could get one break it would change the match and the momentum and it did."
A frustrated Haas bemoaned his inability to come up with the big shots at critical times.
"I thought towards 2-2 in the fifth it was very open and then he basically just came up with some great shots to break me," said Haas.
"Unfortunately I hit one of the balls really close next to the line which I guess was out. That cost me the early break. Then he just took it to another level and played some awesome tennis."
Federer will now play fifth seed Nikolay Davydenko in the last eight.
