( CNN ) -- The milestones keep coming for Roger Federer , but the tennis superstar had to dig deep at the French Open on Sunday before notching his 900th career win and reaching his 36th successive grand slam quarterfinal . Federer made a flying start against home hope Gilles Simon , but then lost the next two sets to raise the prospect of his earliest defeat at a major tournament since he lost in the third round at Roland Garros to Gustavo Kuerten in 2004 . An uncharacteristic fall on the red clay by the Swiss in the seventh game of the second set heralded a change of momentum . However , he regained his composure to triumph 6-1 4-6 2-6 6-2 6-3 and earn a clash with another Frenchman , sixth seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga . `` It was a great atmosphere in which to play like this . It became difficult in the second set as Gilles turned it around , '' said the 17-time grand slam champion , who has lost only once in 23 times he has had to play five sets . `` I am proud of the record . It 's a lot of years , a lot of sacrifices and a lot of matches like this . '' Simon had won five-set matches in the first and third rounds , but was unable to reach the second grand slam quarterfinal of his career -- the only one being in Australia in 2009 . Federer , whose only French Open triumph was in 2009 , became the fourth player to reach 900 wins -- Ivan Lendl was the last to do so in 1990 . The 31-year-old Swiss has won 81.5 % of those matches , with just 204 defeats . He has a 9-3 career record against Tsonga , who beat Serbia 's Viktor Troicki 6-3 6-3 6-3 to reach the quarterfinals of his home event for the second successive year . Interactive : The secrets of French Open champions . France has not had a male champion since Yannick Noah in 1983 , and Tsonga is looking to make up for last year 's heartbreak -- when he blew four match-points in a five-set defeat by world No . 1 Novak Djokovic . `` I 'm playing well , so all the lights are green , '' the 28-year-old said . `` Everything is positive . I have nothing to lose . '' Fourth seed David Ferrer will take on this year 's surprise package Tommy Robredo in an all-Spanish quarterfinal . Robredo became the first man in 86 years to come back from two sets down in three successive matches in a grand slam as he defeated 11th-seeded compatriot Nicolas Almagro 6-7 ( 5-7 ) 3-6 6-4 6-4 6-4 . The 31-year-old , who this time last year had dropped from a career-high fifth in the rankings to a lowly 470th after 14 months out with injury , trailed 4-1 in the third set before launching an another incredible comeback . `` Maybe he had a little bit of doubt , though , in that moment , '' said 34th-ranked Robredo , who also reached the last eight in Paris in 2003 , 2005 and 2009 . `` Then I just pushed hard and I won the third . And then I was just dreaming and dreaming to try to do it again , and I did it . '' Almagro , who has reached two finals on the ATP Tour this year , also led 4-2 in the fourth set and 2-0 in the decider . `` I had my ups and downs . These ups and downs cost me the match , '' said the 27-year-old , who also blew a two-set lead against Ferrer in January 's Australian Open quarterfinals . `` I think Tommy produced a remarkable , admirable game . I have every respect for what he did . For my part , I need to move on as best I can . '' Ferrer , a semifinalist last year , dropped just five games as he crushed South African 23rd seed Kevin Anderson 6-3 6-1 6-1 . `` I 'm very happy with my game today , '' said Ferrer , who has not lost a set in four matches . `` Maybe I played the best match of this week . ''
Second seed Roger Federer reaches his 36th consecutive grand slam quarterfinal . Federer registers 900th win of his illustrious career , beating Gilles Simon in five sets . The 17-time grand slam champion will next face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at French Open . TL;DR Novak Djokovic wins the BNP Paribas Masters final against Andy Murray to claim a record-extending seventh Wimbledon title.