Roger Federer believes this year's Roland Garros crowds are willing him on to his first French Open title.

The clay-court grand slam is the only major to have eluded him, but this could be his year.

He marched into the quarter-finals thanks to a straight-sets win over Russia's Mikhail Youzhny on Philippe Chatrier court yesterday.

And he senses the Paris crowd is gradually warming to him as he bids to knock Rafael Nadal off his perch and claim his first Roland Garros success in eight years of trying.

''It started when I played the first semi-final against Nadal (in 2005),'' said the Swiss star.

''At the end of the match, people chanted my name and I was really moved. 'All of a sudden I had the feeling the public was with me.

''Last year, the crowd supported me in the final (against Nadal), especially in the fourth set. I think the crowd would like me to win here this year, because I have been trying hard."

Federer prevailed against Youzhny, seeded 13, in his first real test of the championship to make the last eight with a 7-6 (7/3) 6-4 6-4 win in just under two-and-a-half hours.

The Swiss will next play Tommy Robredo, the ninth seed who thrashed Filippo Volandri in straight sets earlier yesterday.

Federer, the world number one, extended his lifetime record against Youzhny to 10-0, but this was no walk in the park.

''I have a great record against him,'' said the Swiss. ''But I still have to be so careful every time I play him."

Federer started off slowly - he was broken in the first game of the match - but he got his break back in the sixth game of the set.

Despite never really hitting top form, the Swiss made it to the tie-break, reacting to an early mini-break by winning five points in a row to go 5-1 up.

Youzhny later put a backhand into the net to give Federer four set points, the second of which he took.

The 46-minute second set was slightly more straightforward, Federer claiming its only break in the opening game to take a commanding lead in the match.

But Youzhny refused to buckle and exchanged breaks with the top seed to go 2-1 ahead in the third set.

In the fifth game, the Russian wasted three break points after going 40-0 up as Federer won five points on the bounce to hold.

The decisive break for Federer came in the seventh game as he went 4-3 ahead.

Serving for the match at 5-4, Federer saw Youzhny squander two break points before clinching the victory on his third match point.

Next up for Federer is clay-court specialist Robredo, the Swiss adding: ''He has improved over the last year or so, so I expect a tough match.''