Federer rallies to win 5-setter
PARIS — Roger Federer said he won't feel much impact from Rafael Nadal's loss at the French Open until Sunday — if then.
That's when they would have met in the final.
Yet Federer acknowledged the elimination of the four-time defending champion has changed the dynamics of the tournament.
"For a lot of players," Federer said, "I think it must be quite a big opportunity, and their heads must be spinning right now."
It's a big chance for Federer, too, and one he nearly squandered in the fourth round Monday. He was five points from a straight-sets defeat before rallying past Tommy Haas 6-7 (4), 5-7, 6-4, 6-0, 6-2.
Federer advanced to the quarterfinals Wednesday, when he'll face No. 11-seeded Gael Monfils. The Frenchman beat the darkness and No. 6 Andy Roddick 6-4, 6-2, 6-3.
Roddick began to complain in the second set that he had trouble seeing the ball in the fading light, but tournament officials denied his pleas for an overnight suspension of play.
Roddick missed several easy shots at the net, including a volley on match point to give Monfils the victory at 9:37 p.m.
The path to the men's title became less daunting when Nadal was upset Sunday by Robin Soderling. The aftershock could most affect Federer, who has lost to Nadal at Roland Garros four years in a row.
"It definitely changes it up if I were to make the final," Federer said. "But we're not there yet, so honestly it hasn't changed a whole lot for me."
Federer's total of 13 Grand Slam titles is one shy of Pete Sampras' record, but the Swiss has battled a slump for much of the past year. An erratic forehand was again a problem for portions of the first three sets against Haas, but with the center-court crowd firmly in his corner, Federer rallied.
The other men's quarterfinal Wednesday will be between No. 5 Juan Martin del Potro and No. 16 Tommy Robredo.
Del Potro, at 20 the youngest player left in the men's draw, earned his third consecutive berth in a major quarterfinal by beating No. 9 Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-1, 6-7 (5), 6-1, 6-4. Robredo improved to 25-6 on clay this year by defeating Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 5-7, 7-6 (4), 6-2.
Serena Williams' next opponent will be No. 7 Svetlana Kuznetsova, who beat No. 12 Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 1-6, 6-1. The other quarterfinal Wednesday will be between 19-year-old Sorana Cirstea and Samantha Stosur.
Jelena Jankovic was two points from winning, just two points from overcoming a disastrous second set and reaching the quarterfinals.
It was two points too many.
The fifth-seeded Jankovic instead lost to Sorana Cirstea of Romania 3-6, 6-0, 9-7 Monday in the fourth round.
"I should have won that," said Jankovic, who won the first two points on serve while leading 5-4 in the third set. "I had 30-love, and what more can I ask for myself? All of a sudden, point by point, and the game went in her favor and everything got complicated."
