Federer roars back to beat Davydenko

The World No 1 recovers from a set down to overcome his recent tormentor and continue his remarkable run of reaching grand slam semi-finals.

Roger Federer battled his way to a record 23rd consecutive grand slam semi-final.

The World No 1 Roger Federer recovered from a set down to overcome his recent tormentor Nikolay Davydenko 2-6 6-3 6-0 7-5 and continue his remarkable run of reaching grand slam semi-finals. Davydenko had beaten Federer in their previous two meetings and began confidently to roll through the opening set before grabbing an early break in the second. The Russian had all the momentum but Federer responded to the challenge in emphatic style as he peeled off the next 13 consecutive games and leave his Russian opponent stunned. Davydenko, who had won his previous 13 matches, regained his composure to briefly threaten in the fourth set, but again Federer withstood the challenge to book his place in a record 23rd consecutive grand slam semi-final. "I've played him many times and I know he goes through phases although they weren't a notch on what he did in that first set." Federer said. "I just tried to stay positive. I wasn't playing bad but he was just playing so well. "It was obviously a bit of a surprise to come back that great because obviously he has been on an incredible run." The Swiss also revealed he had used a toilet break to his advantage at the end of the first set after Davydenko had broken him twice to take the initiative. "I was having problems with the sun in my eyes also in the opening set," Federer said. "I was waiting for it to move. I never use my toilet breaks so I thought I will use it and I hoped that maybe in that time the sun would move maybe one centimetre, maybe three. It might have been one point that it affected, but maybe that is important in the end."

* PA Sport