MADRID (Reuters) - World number two Roger Federer survived a gritty Andy Roddick fightback to beat the American sixth seed 7-5 6-7 6-1 and advance to the semi-finals of the Madrid Open on Friday.
The Swiss maestro mixed up his game beautifully against the big-serving Roddick in the first set and clinched it with an exquisite drop shot.
He had chances to break for a 5-4 lead in the second but Roddick held on and stormed back from 3-0 down in the tie-break, helped by one scorching forehand winner, to take the match to a deciding set.
Federer suddenly found a higher gear and three stunning passing shots set up a break in the second game.
He played an extraordinary shot from the baseline between his legs with his back to the net to keep himself in one rally, saved a break point in game five and broke again the following game.
Roddick saved three match points before sending a return long on a Federer second serve to put the Swiss through to face the winner of the quarter-final later on Friday between fourth seed Andy Murray and fifth seed Juan Martin Del Potro.
Federer, who has yet to win a title this year, had never faced Roddick on clay before and improved his record against the American to 18 wins and two defeats.
World number one Rafael Nadal will continue his quest for a sixth title of the season and a fourth on clay in his quarter-final against Spanish compatriot Fernando Verdasco, the seventh seed, later on Friday.
Serb Novak Djokovic, chasing a fifth straight final appearance, meets Croatian wild card Ivan Ljubicic in Friday's other quarter-final.
(Reporting by Iain Rogers, editing by Miles Evans)