Federer, Djokovic rally to advance into last 8 at French Open

Paris, June 4 (IANS) Third seed Roger Federer came back from one set down to beat Belgian newcomer David Goffin 5-7, 7-5, 6-2, 6-4 to reach the quarter-finals of the French Open while top-seeded Novak Djokovic recovered from two sets down to beat Italian Andreas Seppi 4-6, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, 7-5, 6-3.

Federer, seeking a record 17th grand slam title, will play either Argentine Juan Martin del Potro, the ninth seed, or seventh-seed Tomas Berdych of Czech Republic in the last eight.

Serb Djokovic won his 25th straight Grand Slam match but needed four hours and 18 minutes Sunday to do so against the 22nd-seeded Seppi.

"I was very fortunate to come through to this match," he said.

"I was fighting, when I was two sets down, I believed I could win the match, and I think, you know, that's the only positive I can really pick from today's match," he said.

Seppi controlled the first two sets, setting up points by moving Djokovic around and breaking his serve three times.

Djokovic found another gear, however, and will move on to his 12th straight Grand Slam quarter-final.

Earlier in the day, women's top seed Victoria Azarenka crashed out of French Open as she lost to Slovakian 15th seed Dominika Cibulkova 6-2 7-6 (7/4). Azarenka looked distraught at the press conference and struggling for words.

"I don't know how to describe my performance really today, it wasn't satisfying being out there playing that way," she said. "She's definitely a good player. I think she plays much better against the top players than maybe a little bit lower ranked players. She really has that desire, and I don't know what motivates her to play that way," she added.