Players Under the Microscope / Editor / 03 June 2007 /

Roger Federer failed to inspire but did tie a Grand Slam record in defeating Mikhail Youzhny in straight sets to secure his place in the last eight of the French Open.

Federer tied the record for most consecutive sets won, taking his streak to 35, on his way to another Open-era Grand Slam mark with 11 straight-set victories in a row.

John McEnroe set both records during Wimbledon and the US Open in 1984, but Federer did not quite reach those dizzy heights in his tenth career victory over the Russian.

The top seed was up against it from the off as his 13th-seeded opponent broke his serve in the first game. However he battled back to win the opening set courtesy of a tie break.

The Swiss star did enough in the remaining two sets, surviving a few scares in the third against Youzhny, to go through to the quarter-finals 7-6 6-4 6-4 at Roland Garros in Paris where he will face ninth seed Tommy Robredo.

The Spaniard secured his place in the last eight earlier on Sunday with a 6-2 7-5 6-1 straight sets victory against Italian Filippo Volandri on the Suzanne Lenglen Court.

Federer has not lost a set at a major tournament since dropping the second set of last year's U.S. Open final against Andy Roddick.

Federer won the last two sets of that match, then won all seven of his matches at the Australian Open in January in straight sets -- becoming the first man to win a Grand Slam title without dropping a set since Bjorn Borg at the 1980 French Open.

Rafael Nadal, who was given the day off on his 21st birthday, plays his fourth round match on Monday as the dynamic duo bid to continue their dominance in the men's game.

The 'Big Two' remain strong favourites over the field to clinch victory in Paris next Sunday, with Federer and Nadal 1.13 for glory one way or the other, while the rest of the field at Roland Garros are 6.6 to take the Men's Tournament Title in Betfair's Big 2 v The Field market.

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