World No. 1 Roger Federer survived an almighty scare from 1,078th-ranked Takao Suzuki before edging into the Japan Open semi-finals yesterday.
The top seed prevailed 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 after being pushed to the limit by an inspired Japanese wildcard, who was playing his first tournament in nine months.
"I could see the headlines," a relieved Federer told reporters. "Federer loses to a guy outside the top 1,000. I'm glad I won -- it saved my image."
PHOTO: AP
The Swiss finally booked a place in the last four with a dipping forehand return that forced Suzuki into a volley error to give Federer the third-set tiebreak 7-3.
A hot start from Suzuki had ruffled Federer, the Japanese forcing him into a wild forehand to break in the third game of the opening set.
Normal service was belatedly resumed in the second when Federer leveled the match with a vicious forehand return to Suzuki's feet.
PHOTO: AFP
great recovery
Suzuki was playing his first tournament since suffering a serious shoulder injury in January and he quickly recovered his composure to put Federer under more pressure in the third set.
But Federer's class ultimately told as the nine-times grand slam singles champion ripped through the tiebreak to close out the match in a shade over two hours.
"He played too good, too quick to get on top of me in the beginning -- simple as that," Federer said. "His serve is really incredible for such a little guy."
"I had to dig deep and come up with a good breaker in the end," said Federer, playing for the first time in Japan this week. "That was a relief."
Federer advances to a semi-final encounter with either Finland's Jarkko Nieminen or German Benjamin Becker today.
Earlier, Britain's Tim Henman made light of a 9am start as he beat Argentina's Juan Martin del Potro 7-6 6-3 in a rain-delayed third-round match.
Henman hit seven aces against Del Potro's two, and said he was happy with the way he was playing.
"Even when I was a break down in the first set, I was hitting the ball well. I created a lot of opportunities. So I just stayed patient. I played better and better as the match went on, so I'm really pleased," the 32-year-old said.
"I really think the conditions suit me well," he said.
Henman, seeded 10th, played Croatia's Mario Ancic in the quarter-finals late yesterday after the third seed beat German Rainer Schuettler 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in another match held over from Thursday.
Yesterday's matches were being played under a closed roof because of continued bad weather in Tokyo.
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