Bet-at-home Open: Federer through to the quarter-finals at Hamburg

The second set proceeded on serve to the sixth game, where Federer earned a couple of break points with an inside out forehand winner. Hajek sailed a backhand wide on the next point to surrender the break. Duelling with purpose, Hajek forced deuce in the next game with Federer serving to take a commanding 5-2 lead in the second set. But the Swiss produced a couple of fiery serves to quell the threat and reach within a game of the quarter-finals.

Running towards glory

Federer played a splendid off-balance overhead smash to squeeze his foot in the door at 15-30 and Hajek offered match point with a backhand that sailed too far. But Federer shanked his forehand yet again to squander the opportunity. A third opportunity went begging when Federer dumped his return in the net. A sweetly executed cross court backhand off a half volley at the net gave the Swiss a fourth match point, but a shanked backhand spent it for nothing.

Eventually, Hajek held serve but Federer raced to victory in the next game serving out the match without any further drama. Federer has never lost before the finals of this tournament since 2004, but has been shaky in his two matches so far before prevailing in the end. It is difficult to say whether it is switching back to clay from grass or it is the new racket, but Federer will need to raise his game quickly if he is to harbour any chances of victory this week.

In other matches, Juan Monaco fought his way past Benoit Paire in three sets – 6-3, 2-6, 6-2. The Argentine will face Spaniard Nicolas Almagro in the quarter-finals. Qualifier Federico Delbonis continued his good run, ousting Dmitry Tursunov in straight sets to reach the last eight. The 114^th ranked player from Azul in Argentina will take on another Spaniard, Fernando Verdasco to fight for a place in the semis. Verdasco did not need a full match, with Jerzy Janowicz retiring due to an injury while trailing 5-7, 0-4.

The second seeded Tommy Haas, who hails from Hamburg but have never won here, raced to a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Carlos Berlocq to set up a last eight clash with last week’s winner Fabio Fognini. The Italian is coming off a maiden tour title in Stuttgart. Fognini was also victor by an identical 6-2, 6-4 score line over Marcel Granollers.

In the quarterfinal, Federer will face Florian Mayer, who defeated Feliciano Lopez 7-6, 6-2 later in the day.