‘Choker’ Baghdatis lets Federer off

“It was a struggle out there for both of us,” said the Swiss, the 2005 champion here. “Jeez, it was tough to keep the ball in play, you know. I struggled really all the way; at times I served a bit better. I’m just really happy I came through. I can’t believe it was just two sets.”

Baghdatis had plenty of chances with four set points in the first set, but he failed to convert these opportunities thanks to errors that included a costly pair of double-faults.

He then broke the solid Swiss as he served for the match leading 5-4 in the second. But nerves entered the frame, Federer breaking back and then producing a service winner in the next game to advance in 1hr 24min.

“I didn’t take my chances, maybe the reason is because I didn’t, like, believe in it,” confessed Baghdatis after the match.

“He won the first set because of his name. I can say because it’s Federer and I just choked.”

Earlier, Australian Lleyton Hewitt revved up his game while Andy Roddick was again left looking for answers after crashing out in the third round, losing to Spaniard David Ferrer 7-6 (4), 6-4.

The unseeded Hewitt continued his 2007 turnaround effort by reaching the semi-finals.

Hewitt defeated Spaniard Carlos Moya, the 2002 Cincinnati runner-up, in straight sets 6-2, 6-4.

Earlier, the revitalised number 20, training during the Grand Slam run-up by remote control with new coach Tony Roche in Sydney, carved out a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Austrian Jurgen Melzer in the quarter finals.

Ferrer, who lost to Roddick last March in Miami, remained remarkable on serve, having been broken just once in three matches. He will now play Nikolay Davydenko.

Roddick, the defending champion, hit the skids in the absence of coach Jimmy Connors as he failed to make a dent in the defence of 16th seed Ferrer.

The scampering Spaniard shocked the crowd favourite, leaving Roddick to return to the drawing board yet another time. This is Ferrer’s second consecutive quarter final appearance at this tournament.

Russian fifth seed Nikolay Davydenko defeated Czech number ten Tomas Berdych 6-3, 6-2 .

US youngster Sam Querrey will play in his fourth quarter final this season after beating Juan Monaco 6-3, 7-5. In the evening match, ninth seeded James Blake defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero, of Spain, in straight sets 6-1, 6-4.