Second seed Roger Federer recovered from going two sets down to defeat Germany's Tommy Haas in a fourth-round thriller.
It looked like Federer was about to follow reigning champion Rafael Nadal on his way out at Roland Garros when he faced a break point at 3-4 down in a third set against the w
aorld number 63.
But the Swiss - the runner-up the last three years here - held his nerve to bounce back, clinch a 6-7 (4/7) 5-7 6-4 6-0 6-2 win and keep alive his dreams of a first French Open title.
It is the fifth time he has recovered from a two-set deficit - he did so against the Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych in this year's Australian Open too.
And it is the sixth time 31-year-old Haas has squandered that lead.
With top seed Nadal unexpectedly losing yesterday to Swede Robin Soderling, the pressure has been thrust on Federer, who still needs one grand slam to match Pete Sampras' haul of 14.
His serve was flawless in the first set - until the tie-break, that is.
The world number two did not drop a point in his six service games although Haas was also comfortable, needing to save just one break point which came in game six.
Federer conceded two mini-breaks in the tie-break to fall 3-1 then 5-2 behind. Haas was pulled back to 5-4 but he held both his next serves, taking the set when Federer sent a return into the net.
The majority of the crowd were rooting for the Swiss and they were delighted to see him break in the third game of the second set.
He looked composed at that stage, with his serve still functioning smoothly, but it started to all go wrong in the eighth game.
He looked like he had the weight of the world on his shoulders as he sent a backhand wide on break point to be drawn back to 4-4.
The next three games went with serve, with Federer shanking or misjudging the majority of his returns.
The 12th game was the second time he served to stay in the set but he imploded.
He saved a first set point but in the next two points he put a forehand wide and then slammed another poorly executed shot into the net to go two sets down.
The third set was just as evenly matched.
Federer had to save a break point in the eighth game with a cross-court forehand but in the following game, he broke when Haas volleyed long after a long, tense rally.
Federer comfortably held serve to take the set.
Haas, 31, had been five points away from a famous win but he would not get that close again.
Federer took just 21 minutes to race through the fourth set without making an unforced error.
The German recovered his poise to end a run of nine winless games by holding in the first of the fifth set.
He was broken in the fifth game, though, and with Federer having rediscovered some consistency, the Swiss pulled through in three hours and seven minutes.
The 27-year-old plays Gael Monfils or Andy Roddick next.
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