By Alastair Himmer

World number one Roger Federer survived an almighty scare from 1,078th-ranked Takao Suzuki before edging into the Japan Open semi-finals on Friday. The top seed squeezed through 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 in Tokyo after being pushed to the limit by the inspired Japanese wildcard, who was playing his first tournament in nine months. 

"I could see the headlines," said the relieved Swiss ace. "'Federer loses to a guy outside the top 1,000.' I'm glad I won -- it saved my image."

Federer finally booked a place in the last four with a dipping forehand to take the third-set tiebreak 7-3.
A hot start from Suzuki had ruffled Federer, the Japanese forcing him into a wild forehand to break in the third game and take the opening set.

Federer levelled the match with a vicious forehand return to Suzuki's feet on set point in the second. But Suzuki, returning to the game after suffering a serious shoulder injury in January, put Federer under more pressure in the third set before the class of his opponent finally told.

"His serve is incredible for such a little guy," said Federer, who improved his win-loss record for the year to 75-5. "I had to dig deep and come up with a good breaker in the end. There's always a fear of losing. It was a relief."