Roger Federer overcomes 2-set deficit to beat Tommy Haas in 4th round at French Open

Federer rallies to 5-set win at French Open

PARIS — Roger Federer has rallied from a two-set deficit to keep his French Open bid alive.

Less than 24 hours after nemesis Rafael Nadal was eliminated, Federer outlasted Tommy Haas 6-7 (4), 5-7, 6-4, 6-0, 6-2 Monday.

The French Open is the only major event Federer has yet to win. He has been beaten by Nadal at Roland Garros four years in a row, the past three times in the final. With the path to the title cleared of the No. 1-ranked Nadal, Federer struggled to take advantage.

The erratic form that has plagued Federer was again a problem during the first three sets. But with the center-court crowd firmly behind the Swiss star, he mounted a comeback, winning nine consecutive games.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

PARIS (AP) — Serena Williams dispensed with any drama and won easily Monday to reach the quarterfinals of the French Open.

The No. 2-seeded Williams extended her Grand Slam winning streak to 18 matches by beating Aleksandra Wozniak 6-1, 6-2 in the fourth round.

It was a straightforward, 53-minute victory, in contrast to Williams’ previous match, when she accused her opponent of cheating and had a coughing fit during a changeover.

“I feel like it was my most focused match so far,” said Williams, who has been battling a cold but said she’s feeling better.

She’s seeking her 11th major title and third in a row. She won last year’s U.S. Open and the Australian Open in January.

Her next opponent will be seventh-seeded Svetlana Kuznetsova.

“I feel like I have nothing to lose,” Williams said. “This is when everything counts, you know. I have to pick up my level and play again a really good, strong match, especially playing somebody like Svetlana who is a great clay-court player and who moves extremely well and doesn’t do anything bad.”

Kuznetsova, winner of the 2004 U.S. Open, advanced by beating No. 12 Agnieszka Radwanska 6-4, 1-6, 6-1. The Russian hit 32 winners to 13 for Radwanska.

The tournament’s final week began in perfect weather — mild and sunny — and Williams was close to flawless, too. She committed only eight unforced errors and totaled 25 winners to nine for Wozniak.

The rout was nothing like her three-set match in the third round, when Williams accused opponent Maria Jose Martinez Sanchez of cheating, saying the Spaniard failed to fess up when a shot bounced off her arm on a critical point.

Williams — at 27 the oldest woman to reach this year’s round of 16 — reached the quarterfinals at Roland Garros for the sixth time. She won her only French Open title in 2002.

The aftershock of Rafael Nadal’s upset loss Sunday will be felt throughout the final week of the tournament. With the four-time defending champion eliminated by Robin Soderling, those hoping to take advantage of Nadal’s departure included Roger Federer, seeking the only Grand Slam title he has yet to win.

Federer was scheduled to play Tommy Haas in a fourth-round match Monday. Also seeking his first berth in the quarterfinals at Roland Garros was American Andy Roddick, who was to play Frenchman Gael Monfils.