Mario Ancic came from two sets down to beat Fernando Verdasco 3-6 4-6 6-3 6-4 13-11 on Monday to set up a Wimbledon quarter-final against champion Roger Federer.

The Croat was the last man to beat Federer on grass, in a first round match at Wimbledon in 2002, since when the Swiss has picked up a modern-era record-equalling five successive titles.

The unseeded Ancic looked down and out when Verdasco, the number 22 seed, led two sets to one and 4-1 in the fourth, only to fight his way back into a match that lasted three hours and 48 minutes out on Court 11.