Rome: Swiss world number two Roger Federer survived a late fightback by Kevin Anderson Thursday to book his place in the quarter-finals and a possible last four match-up with Rafael Nadal at the Italian Open.


Roger Federer. Pic/AFP 

Elsewhere, Britain's Andy Murray (fatigue) and defending women's champion Serena Williams (elbow) withdrew, while men's defending champion Novak Djokovic was put through his paces before ousting big-hitting Brazilian qualifier Thomaz Bellucci 5-7, 6-2, 6-3 to set up a quarter-final meeting with Japanese fifth see Kei Nishikori.