Roger Federer beat Thomaz Bellucci 3-6 6-3 6-4 to reach the quarters at Indian Wells.
It has not being easy for the former world number 1 who has battled flu and a temperature these days and it was not sure if he was going to be fit enough to compete.
“I’m still hurting a bit, but at least I don’t have a massive headache, aches and pains anymore,” he commented. “That’s all gone now. I got maybe a bit lucky but it’s taken some time to for me to get better, to be honest. I thought I would see quicker improvements.”
“The night was rough before my first-round match, and I was thinking, ‘I don’t know how I’m gonna do this.’ But I woke up and I felt a little bit better.
“That went and I didn’t feel good in the afternoon again. One hour before the match I started to feel better again. At that point I always knew I was going to go out on court and give it a try, at least.
“I knew I had a day off after that, after the first-round match. That really gave me the belief that I could do it, you know.”
Federer struggled against Bellucci before breaking his opponent in the first and ninth games of the second set to level the match.
The final set went with serve until Federer again broke in the 10th game, converting his second match point when Bellucci hit a forehand long.
"I really struggled to make the transition [from yesterday's match]. I was quite surprised, but at the end I found a way, dug deep and came through," said Federer.
“These are the wins that almost feel better, to be quite honest, because when you’re playing great, it’s simple, it’s easy, right? But when it’s not going your way and things are difficult, that’s kind of the good wins.”
Federer will next face Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, who battle past Denis Istomin 7-6(2), 6-7(6), 6-2 in two hours and 45 minutes.
