by Dan Weil, Special to FOXSports.com

2008 French Open

Results:

• | Blog
• Day 14: New No. 1 Ivanovic wins title
• | |
• Day 10: Men | | |
• Day 8: Men | | |
• | |
• | | 3: Women | Rain
• Day 2: Women | Men | 1: Men |

Analysis:

• Cronin: Just the start for Nadal?

Others:

• PHOTOS: Title matches | Early rounds
• Singles draws: Men | Women

Partners:

• Tennis Week: Analysis, video and more
• Richard's Court: Inside the tennis world
• Tennis Channel: French Open coverage

Federer produced his best effort of the tournament so far, using the full gamut of shots on his backhand and moving beautifully. His drop shot also was extremely effective against the 6-foot-5 Croat.

"At the beginning of the match, it was kind of hard to be able to move him around from the baseline, so I struggled a bit," Federer said. "But once I got the first break, I think I really started to play better and more freely. Then I really served well throughout the match. I was very pleased with the way I played."

Thanks to injuries and upsets, Federer's side of the draw has opened up to give him an easy-looking path to the final. Next up for the Swiss superman is Frenchman Julien Benneteau.

Benneteau's biggest claim to fame may be that he is one of five Frenchmen in the fourth round. This marks only the second time during the Open Era, which began 40 years ago, that five male French players have advanced to the final 16 of a Grand Slam event. The other instance came in 1971, also at Roland Garros.

Benneteau is ranked only 55th in the world, though earlier this month he rose to a career high of No. 35. He has reached the Round of 16 at a Grand Slam one other time, making it to the quarterfinals at Paris in 2006.

Federer defeated Benneteau in their only prior meeting, on a hard court in Cincinnati last summer.

"I haven't played against him very often, but he's a good player," the Swiss magician said. "He's an all-around player. He plays well on all surfaces. It's not every year that you play against a Frenchman here at Roland Garros, so I'm looking forward to it."

If Federer gets by Benneteau, he may play the surprising American Robby Ginepri in the quarterfinals. The American, who shares coach Jose Higueras with Federer, has advanced to the fourth round of the French Open after failing to win a match here in his previous five tries.

Ginepri is the only American still alive at the event in singles. He defeated France's Florent Serra 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 Saturday.

"Last guy standing, it's a good feeling," said the 25-year-old resident of Kennesaw, GA."I would definitely like to have a lot of the other Americans still in the tournament, of course, but I'm really trying not to let that weight on my shoulders as much. I know what I have to do."

Ginepri, ranked 88th, plays No. 24 seed Fernando Gonzalez of Chile Monday. Gonzalez upset No. 9 seed Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland Saturday, overcoming a two-set deficit.

Gonzalez owns a perfect 3-0 record against Ginepri, with their latest match played at Wimbledon last year.

Federer declined to discuss his draw beyond Benneteau, but asked how Higueras would react if his pupils play each other in the quarterfinals, the World No. 1 deadpanned, "If that problem occurs, I think he's happy."