Six-times champion Roger Federer has overcome a “scary” back flare-up to reach his 33rd successive grand slam quarter-final with a four-set fourth-round Wimbledon win over Belgian Xavier Malisse.
Federer required a medical timeout to have painkillers midway through the first set before settling down to beat the 2002 semi-finalist 7-6 (7-1) 6-1 4-6 6-3 in two hours and 11 minutes.
The 16-times major winner next plays his Russian bunny Mikhail Youzhny on Wednesday for a likely semi-final showdown with world No.1 and defending champion Novak Djokovic.
With two days rest, Federer said he was confident of being back to 100 per cent for his quarter-final, his 10th straight at the All England Club.
“My back is okay. It started to feel better as the match went on,” the third seed said.
“It comes and goes. When you play on tour for over 15 years, the back does hurt at times.
“You just hope it doesn’t come in a big match. It was scary, but the treatment was a big help.”
Turning 31, Federer said the cold and windy conditions undoubtedly contributed to his suffering, the match delayed at one stage because of rain on a gloomy day in London.
Federer is a perfect 13 from 13 in career meetings with Youzhny, who outlasted Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin 6-3 5-7 6-4 6-7 (5-7) 7-5 in a four-and-a-half-hour epic on Monday.
The all-time grand slam title leader can displace Djokovic as world No.1 if he matches Pete Sampras’s record seven Wimbledon crowns on Sunday.
Such a dream scenario would also draw the Swiss superstar level with Sampras for the longest total reign as world No.1 – 286 weeks.