Rome - Roger Federer fell victim to a run of uncharacteristic backhand errors on Friday to crash out in a quarter- final shock at the Rome Masters 7-6 (7-4), 7-6 (9-7) to Radek Stepanek. The journeyman Czech did himself no favours with a wildly pro- Federer crowd as he engaged in his distasteful "worm dance" in victory - undulating his body onto the clay then ripping off his bandana and waving it around.
Federer was plagued by a poor day on the clay of the event where he has lost two finals. With favourite Rafael Nadal out of the running after a second-round defeat, the Swiss had potential chances for the title. Federer's passing game was well off the mark during the contest, with more than 10 errors on that shot.
The top seed managed 25 winners and struck two of his seven aces in the second-set tiebreaker. He saved a match point but was unable to rescue a doomed effort despite leading 5-2.
"It was very important to play aggressively," said Stepanek, Once he plays his game he can move you around the court.
"You have to put pressure on him, and it paid off."
Stanislas Wawrinka shone for Switzerland as he ended the improbable clay odyssey of American James Blake with a laboured 6-7 (5-7), 7-6 (7-5), 6-1 victory into the semi-finals.
The struggle in two hours, 31 minutes sends Wawrinka onto a career-best 20th ranking from Monday on and gives Switzerland two players in the elite zone for the first time since March, 1991, through number 18 Jakob Hlasek and number 20 Marc Rosset.
"Of course I'm very happy," said the winner. "I played very good and now I'm still in the tournament to play a second semi-final in two weeks.
"The two first sets were very, very tough. 6-7, 7-6 is always difficult. But I stayed focussed on my game and tried to push him a lot from the baseline."
Blake, the eighth seed, forced Wawrinka onto the defensive in a torrid conclusion to the second set, with the Swiss finally managing to level the contest after wasting six set points and taking an injury timeout for back treatment.
But Wawrinka found his health in the third set, beginning with a break of the American in the opening game and duplicating that effort to earn a 4-1 lead before concluding with a break on his first match point.
Blake was also part of a record in Rome, where Andy Roddick was bidding for the final four later against Spains Tommy Robredo.
The pair has been shredding the US reputation as clay-court creme- puffs this week, the first time that at least two Americans have reached the Rome quarters since 2002 when Andre Agassi won the title, Roddick reached the semis and Blake advanced to the quarters.
Wawrinka has come on strong in recent weeks after playing a clay final last summer against Rafael Nadal in Stuttgart.
The 22-year-old reached the Barcelona semi-finals last weekend, losing to eventual finalist David Ferrer.
He then carried on in Rome with wins over Marat Safin, Andy Murray and Juan Carlos Ferrero, conqueror in the second round of Nadal.
