Federer survives a fright as Robredo bows out

By Bill Scott Oct 6, 2006, 13:55 GMT

World number one Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a ball to Japan`s Takao Suzuki in the men\'s 4th round AIG Japan Open tennis tournament Tokyo, Friday 06 October 2006. Federer won 4-6,7-5,7-6. EPA/David Coll

Tokyo - Roger Federer survived his toughest test of the week Friday, overcoming inspired home challenger Takao Suzuki in a 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-3) dogfight to squeeze into the semi-finals of the AIG Open.

But Korean ninth seed Hyung-taik Lee dealt a blow to the year-end Masters Cup chances of Tommy Robredo as he upset the Spanish second seed 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 6-1.

Had he won into the semi-finals, Robredo would have overtaken James Blake on sixth place in the race to the November end-of-season event in Shanghai.

Defeat left Robredo on seventh in the eight-man field with four more weeks of the tennis season remaining.

'At 3-0 in the third set, I couldn't do any more,' said Robredo. 'He was just playing to well. It's too bad because up until then my level was good, though not at 100 percent.

'I'm sorry I couldn't move ahead in the Masters Cup.'

The tournament, badly affected by typhoon rains over the past two days, has not been a stroll for Japan debutant Federer.

It would have been worse for the Swiss had he gone down to the Suzuki, ranked 1,078 after a shoulder injury.

'I can see the headline: Federer loses to guy outside top 1,000,' joked the Swiss. 'I'm happy I won - it saved my image.'

The Swiss world number 1 lost his first set in the capital against the 30-year-old Japanese, playing his first ATP event in a year since last competing at the Ariake colosseum, where he lost in the first round in 2005.

Suzuki, was playing in the third ATP quarter-final of his career, the last coming five years ago at this venue.

Federer lost the first set on a break and suddenly found himself in a struggle with the underdog. The Swiss secured the second set with a break and eventually eased through in a dominating tiebreaker to reach the final four in a sweat.

Federer improved to 75-5 as he bids for a ninth title this season. He stands 13-0 in quarter-finals in 2006.

'Throughout the match I was down a break or a set. There's always the fear of losing when you're down, it's a normal feeling,' said the Swiss.

'I was holding my serve, but didn't have much chance on his serve. I hoped for a breaker.

'I got a bit lucky and played a solid match in the end. I was really happy with my performance.'

Federer has avoided the late-night matches which have been required at an outdoor complex with only one covered court.

Thursday's rain-hit play did not conclude until 3:23 a.m. on Friday morning, with Briton Tim Henman forced on Friday to start his third-round match at an unheard-of 9 a.m.

The tenth seed soldiered through into the quarter-finals, dispatching Argentine teenager Juan Del Potro 7-6 (7-3), 6-3.

Henman was playing later for a second time against last year's finalist Mario Ancic, who won another delayed match as he put out German Rainer Schuettler 6-2, 4-6, 6-4.

Women's matches were all shifted under the roof at an off-site venue in an effort to complete that side of the draw.

Top seed Marion Bartoli finished off a few games to conclude an interrupted match as she beat Russian Vera Duchevina 6-2, 6-4. She then beat Akio Namigata 6-2, 6-1 in the quarters.