Federer rallies for third-round win after trailing 0-2

WIMBLEDON, England – Roger Federer overcame a two-set deficit Friday at Wimbledon to avoid his earliest Grand Slam exit since 2004.

The six-time champion found himself two points from defeat on six occasions but survived a tense fourth-set tiebreaker and beat Julien Benneteau in the third round, 4-6, 6-7 (3), 6-2, 7-6 (6), 6-1.

“It was a tough match,” Federer said. “Oh my God, it was brutal. Obviously, a bit of luck, maybe, on my side. Who knows? But I tried hard. I fought ’til the very end.”

Federer avoided the fate that befell nemesis Rafael Nadal 24 hours earlier on the same Centre Court. Nadal, a two-time champion, made his quickest exit from a major since 2005 when No. 100-ranked Lukas Rosol beat him in five sets Thursday.

Benneteau had won his past four five-set matches, but this time he was the wearier player at the end, twice requiring thigh massages from a trainer for cramps during the fifth set. Federer cracked a forehand return winner into the corner to break for a 3-1 lead and pulled away from there.

A hobbling Benneteau appeared in tears before the final point, and he dumped his last shot in the net. Fans roared as a grinning Federer gave them a triumphant wave.

“He proved he is great. The greatest,” Benneteau said. “Mentally he’s a rock. He’s two sets down, and he doesn’t show anything.”

The No. 3-seeded Federer seeks to match Pete Sampras’ modern record of seven Wimbledon championships. He has been stalled for 21/2 years at a record 16 Grand Slam titles, but Nadal’s departure improves his chances next week.Top-ranked Novak Djokovic earlier mounted a more modest comeback to beat Radek Stepanek 4-6, 6-2, 6-2, 6-2.

Also advancing to the second week was top-ranked Maria Sharapova. She rallied from a break down in the second set to beat Hsieh Su-wei 6-1, 6-4.

Kim Clijsters led 6-3, 4-3 when No. 12 Vera Zvonareva retired with a respiratory infection. The unseeded Clijsters, who plans to retire after the U.S. Open, is a four-time Grand Slam seeking her first berth in a Wimbledon final.

No. 3 Agnieszka Radwanska defeated Britain’s Heather Watson under the roof, 6-0, 6-2.