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http:// --> Ashland, Oregon HOME Valley & State Sports Nation & World Opinion/Editorial Classifieds Business Columnists Obituaries Weather Archive Hot Topics Forum Photo Gallery Past Readers Polls Revels Etcetera Backpage O-Zone Special Sections Real Estate Guide Menu Guide Shakespeare Subscribe Contact Us Rate Card Place an Ad Online Games Movie Preview October 6, 2006 Federer picks up scary three-set victory over Suzuki at Japan Open TOKYO — Roger Federer didn't let the effects of a disturbing nightmare get in the way of a win over Takao Suzuki to advance to the semifinals of the Japan Open. Federer rallied from a shaky start today to edge Suzuki 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (3). Despite the scary start, it was nothing compared to the eve of his third-round showdown against Wesley Moodie when he awoke in the middle of the night from a bad dream and injured his lower leg. "I jumped out of bed and stood up screaming in a state of shock," Federer said on his Web site. "I didn't know where I was. I ran back and hit the corner of the bed, which is solid wood and sharp. I have a big bruise on my tibia now. It was a pretty scary for a moment." He had to be restrained by his girlfriend, Miroslava Vavrinec. "Luckily, Mirka was there. (She) grabbed me and told me to relax," he said. Federer blamed the bad dream on a sake drink he had before going to bed on Wednesday. He cruised to a 6-2, 6-1 win over defending champion Moodie, and was in good spirits after booking a place in the semifinals. Federer will face German Benjamin Becker, who defeated fifth-ranked Jarkko Nieminen 6-7 (5), 7-6 (6), 6-4. Becker beat Andre Agassi at the U.S. Open, sending the eight-time Grand Slam winner into retirement last month. Struggling with his return, Federer dropped the first set to Suzuki, who recently recovered from a shoulder injury and is playing in his first ATP tournament since the Australian Open in January. "It was a difficult match and I was afraid I might lose it," Federer said Friday. "He mixed up his serves well and hit all the corners. I got a bit of luck here and there in the third set which helped." The top-ranked player finally found his rhythm in the second set and broke Suzuki for the first time in the final game after being down 30-love. Suzuki, ranked 1,078th in the world, kept pace with Federer in the third set, holding serve in the 12th game to force the tiebreaker. "Not returning more of his serves was the only part of my game today that I maybe wasn't happy with," Federer said. "But that had a lot to do with my opponent and how well he hit the ball." Federer, playing in his first tournament since winning the U.S. Open last month, has been inconsistent in his Japan debut. The Swiss star struggled through his opening match against qualifier Viktor Troicki before returning to form in the third round Thursday. Even though he lost, Suzuki said he was pleased with his performance. "I felt really good playing the World No. 1 on center court," Suzuki said. "I didn't really have a game plan, I just got caught up in the moment and am happy I played so well." Rain on Thursday caused 12 men's and women's matches to be postponed to Friday. Tim Henman overcame a slow start to defeat Juan Martin Del Potro 7-6 (3), 6-3 and then beat Mario Ancic 6-2, 6-2 in his second match on Friday. Henman will play Lee Hyung-taik, who knocked out second-seeded Tommy Robredo 7-6 (3), 4-6, 6-1. Henman has not reached a top tier tournament final since Indian Wells in 2004, and his ranking has dropped from a career-high No. 4 in 2002 to No. 55. Third-seeded Ancic, who was runner-up here last year, defeated Rainer Schuettler 6-2, 4-6, 6-4 in Friday's other third-round match. In women's matches, top-seeded Marion Bartoli cruised into the semifinals, beating Vera Dushvina 6-2, 6-4 before downing Junri Namigata 6-2, 6-1 in the quarterfinals. Leave a Comment: Advertisement: Advertisement: Paid Advertising Inkjet Printers Student Loans Water Filter Helzberg Diamonds Mortgage Calculator Security Systems Advertisement: Copyright © 2006 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers. All Rights Reserved.