World No. 8 Roger Federer was happy that he managed to survive a tough second round challenge against Marin Cilic and progress into the French Open third round. Federer, a former world No. 1, overcame Cilic in four sets 6-2 2-6 7-6 (4) 6-2 in the French Open second round on Thursday.

“[It was a] very good match for me, I thought,” Federer said, per the ATP website. “A bit of up-and-downs in the second and third sets. The good thing, I feel like I come out of a match like this and I know why it was up and down, and then that I was able to attain a solid level once he did break back in the third set and things were looking dangerous for me.

“That I was able to step up a gear, stay with him, and then pull away from him, I think that gives me a lot of confidence.”

Federer won the key third set

Federer made a great start to the match, having broken Cilic twice in the opening set to easily win the opener.

After easily losing the first set, Cilic responded with two breaks in the second set to level the match at a one set apiece. Federer blew an early third-set break but kept his focus and won the third set. After winning a tight third set, Federer broke Cilic twice in the fourth set to book a four-set win.

“I think that fourth set was really big and nice for me, because it’s hard to replicate those kind of pressure moments like [the] tie-break [in the] third set,” Federer said. “[It was] one set all, and then sort of everything goes flat [at the] beginning of the fourth set.

But you have got to stay on top of things and I was able to almost find another gear, which he couldn’t, and I think that was very nice for me. I’m very happy.”