Ernests Gulbis has condemned Roger Federer to his worst French Open defeat in a decade as Novak Djokovic remained calmly on course for a maiden Roland Garros title.
Gulbis, the controversial Latvian, beat the fourth-seeded 2009 champion 6-7 (5/7) 7-6 (7/3) 6-2 4-6 6-3 as Federer, 32, suffered his earliest loss in Paris since 2004 when he was demolished on Sunday in the third round by Gustavo Kuerten.
Victory would have put Federer into a record 42nd Grand Slam quarter-final and 10th in a row in Paris, but 25-year-old Gulbis showed no fear as he set up a last-eight clash against Czech sixth seed Tomas Berdych.
He unleashed 13 aces and 53 winners with Federer undone by an uncharacteristic 59 unforced errors as he lost a five-setter at Roland Garros for the first time.
“I was all over the place,” admitted Federer.
“I am disappointed not to win. I have a lot of regrets.
“But he did a good job of hanging around and coming back. I knew what to expect, I know how he plays. I just wish I could have played better.”
Gulbis, who took a controversial medical timeout in the fourth set, was delighted by his win.
“It was a tough match and I’m sorry as I know that most of you wanted Roger to win.”
The Latvian incurred the wrath of the pro-Federer centre court crowd when he took a medical timeout to treat lower back pain at 2-5 down.
“I’m honest, I’m not big on medical timeouts. I don’t like to take it, but I take it when it’s really necessary. It probably was my third medical timeout in my life,” said Gulbis, who thrived on the atmosphere, upping the pace as he took a 3-0 lead in the decider.
Gulbis set up two match points with his 13th ace and claimed his famous victory when Federer slapped a backhand wide.
Djokovic, the 2012 runner-up who needs a French Open title to complete a career Grand Slam, swept into the quarter-finals with a one-sided 6-1 6-4 6-1 win over top home hope Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.
“It was a very good match for me. I prepared well tactically with my team,” said world number two Djokovic.
“I started with much intensity and quality and I am very happy with my game today.”
Eighth seed Milos Raonic became just the fourth Canadian man in history – and first in the Open Era – to reach a Grand Slam quarter-final when he defeated Spain’s Marcel Granollers 6-3 6-3 6-3.
Berdych made the quarter-finals for the second time with a 6-4 6-4 6-4 win over 10th seed John Isner, while Wimbledon champion Andy Murray battled to a four-hour 3-6 6-3 6-3 4-6 12-10 win over Philipp Kohlschreiber to reach the fourth round.
The British seventh seed, who next faces Spanish left-hander Fernando Verdasco, had been level at 7-7 with the German 28th seed when the match was halted on Saturday night.
When the pair reappeared, Murray squandered a match point at 9-8 but wrapped up the match in the 22nd game of the decider.
The 30-year-old Verdasco, seeded 24, reached the fourth round with a 6-3 6-2 6-3 win over France’s 12th seed Richard Gasquet.
