Top-seed Roger Federer returns the ball to Chile's Fernando Gonzalez during their quarter-final in the French Open yesterday. Federer won 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4. - AP

PARIS (AP):

ROGER FEDERER lost three of his first four service games yesterday, causing a stir among French Open fans but only briefly delaying his progress to the semi-finals.

The top-ranked Federer rallied to defeat Fernando Gonzalez 2-6, 6-2, 6-3, 6-4 and reach the final four at his 16th consecutive Grand Slam event.

"It's always a great pleasure being in the last four," Federer said. "It's really where it gets most interesting."

Seeking the only major title he has yet to win, Federer will face unseeded Frenchman Gael Monfils who defeated No. 5-seed David Ferrer, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-1. Number 2 Rafael Nadal, the three-time defending champion, will play No. 3 Novak Djokovic in the other semi-final tomorrow.

Modest comeback

By this week's standards at Roland Garros, Federer's comeback against Gonzalez was modest. Dinara Safina came within a point of defeat for the second consecutive match, but made the semi-finals by beating fellow Russian Elena Dementieva, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-0.

The semi-final berth is the first in a major tournament for Safina, the younger sister of two-time Grand Slam champion Marat Safin. Her latest rally was remarkably similar to the one she mounted against top-ranked Maria Sharapova in the fourth round.

"Once you went through this, you always believe, "Why not the second time?"' Safina said.

Her opponent today will be another Russian, 2004 U.S. Open champion, Svetlana Kuznetsova.

"Dinara is playing very well," Kuznetsova said. "She has too many lives, so I have to be careful with her."

Kuznetsova recovered from her own slow start to beat unseeded Kaia Kanepi, 7-5, 6-2.

The other women's semi-final will be an all-Serbian match, with No. 2-seeded Ana Ivanovic playing No. 3 Jelena Jankovic.

Susceptible

Federer appeared susceptible to an upset after committing a dozen unforced errors in the first set, which he lost in 25 minutes. He found himself on the defensive against the No. 24-seeded Gonzalez, who came into the match 16-0 on clay this year.

"I was a bit afraid because the match was not going the way I wanted," Federer said. "I was really under pressure in the first set. I felt uncomfortable. I was missing a lot of shots, and he defended well."

Federer became more aggressive, attacking Gonzalez's forehand. The change in tactic helped him repeatedly reach the net, where he won 29 of 35 points.