Roger Federer admitted that he got lucky after avoiding a major setback in his preparations for Wimbledon in a grueling 7-6 (7/5), 4-6, 7-5 victory over Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the ATP event in Halle on Thursday. 

"It had a bit of everything: happiness, sadness, frustration. I maybe got a bit lucky, but you need that sometimes," he said.

"It was a bit emotional at the end, which was nice." 

French wildcard Tsonga won his previous two matches with Federer, but most recently was at the Monte Carlo Open three years ago. 

Federer faced break point in the fifth game, but fended it off and went on to hold. 

Tsonga turned the tables in the second, trying to get past Roger on set point, but he didn’t need to as the Swiss volleyed long to hand a 6-4 win for Jo Willy. 

The third was also tight. Tied at 5-5, Federer fired a sublime backhand en route to breaking at love. 

The Swiss, who is eyeing a record tenth career title at Halle this year, closed out with an ace to win the set 7-5 and will face Roberto Bautista Agut in his 17th quarter-final in Halle on Friday. 

"Roberto wins his points differently than Jo does. Jo does it with the serve, the power, the variety. Roberto does it with repetition," said Federer.  

Bautista Agut promised to take the fight to Federer after he eased to a 6-1, 6-4 victory over France's Richard Gasquet. 

Home favorite Alexander Zverev also advanced to the quarter-finals with a comfortable 6-3, 7-5 win over American Steve Johnson.

The world number five faces Belgium's David Goffin in the last eight on Friday.

"I am just happy to be on the court," said Zverev, who has been struggling with a knee injury this week.

(With input from AFP)