A thriller unfolded on Centre Court as Roger Federer battled back from two sets down against Julien Benneteau to take a classic victory this evening.

The Frenchman came out aggressively from the first point, with Federer unable to keep out a series of aces in a first set in which Benneteau broke at the end to serve for a surprise set lead.

It was to get even better for the 29th-seed. He was broken in his first service game but broke back immediately, with several games in the set going to long deuces.

In his final service game in set two, Benneteau survived seven deuces to reach the tie-breaker, which he comprehensively won to take a dramatic two-set lead.

It looked as though another huge upset was on the cards, but Federer used all his stamina and experience to battle back, taking set three comfortably 6-2.

Set four went to another breaker, again with neither man able to break serve, only this time it went the way of the world number three, Federer taking it 7-6(6).

Benneteau was somewhat hampered by injury in the final set, requiring the trainer on a couple of occasions. In truth he had used up everything in the previous four sets.

Federer was by now rampant, breaking with ease and he took the final set 6-1 to claim the match 4-6 (3)6-7 6-2, 7-6(6) 6-1.