Stepanek downs Federer

Top seed Roger Federer crashed out of the Rome Masters to Radek Stepanek at the quarter-final stage.

The unseeded Czech stormed to a 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (9-7) triumph to clinch his second career victory in six meetings against the world number one.

The first set went to a tie-break, which Stepanek rallied to take 7-4 after a shaky start which saw him go 2-0 down.

The 29-year-old from Karvina broke the Swiss master early in the second set and established a 4-1 lead only for Federer to break back.

Stepanek did not let that setback affect his rhythm and again broke the Federer serve in the eighth game to earn the opportunity to serve for the match, but again the five-time Wimbledon champion fought back to deny him and take the set to a tie-break.

Federer looked to be in control when he went 4-1 up but it was Stepanek's turn to battle back and close it out 9-7.

Stepanek will next face third seed Novak Djokovic after Spain's Nicolas Almagro retired when trailing the Serb by one set to love.

The first quarter-final saw another upset with eighth-seeded American James Blake ousted by unseeded Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland.

The American took the first set on a tie-break but the unseeded Swiss responded to win 6-7 (5-7) 7-6 (7-5) 6-1 and earn a semi-final meeting with Andy Roddick.

Roddick earned his spot in the final four with a hard fought 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-4) victory over Spain's Tommy Robredo.

Rome Masters quarter-final results:

Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) bt. 1 – Roger Federer (Switzerland) 7-6 (7-4) 7-6 (9-7)
3 – Novak Djokovic (Serbia) bt. Nicolas Almagro (Spain) 6-1 1-0 ret.
6 – Andy Roddick (USA) bt. 14 – Tommy Robredo (Spain) 6-3 4-6 7-6 (7-4)
Stanislas Wawrinka (Switzerland) bt. 8 – James Blake (USA) 6-7 (7-5) 7-6 (7-5) 6-1