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Mischa Zverev lead a string of upsets by German players at ATP Halle as he beat Tomas Berdych to reach the quarter-finals.

Germany's top player Philipp Kohlschreiber dumped out sixth-seeded Russia's Dmitry Tursunov with a 6-4 7-6(6) win, while Benjamin Becker also won his second round tie with a 6-4 2-6 6-4 victory over eighth-seed compatriot Rainer Schuettler .

Also flying the flag was Tommy Haas, who continued his fantastic return to form by beating world number nine Jo-Wilfried Tsonga 6-3 7-6(3) to book his spot in the quarter-finals.

World number 41 Haas, who missed much of last year due to a shoulder injury, quickly broke the French fourth seed to go 3-0 up in the first set.

Rushing to the net at every opportunity the 31-year-old German wrapped it up after only 26 minutes.

Both big-serving players held serve in the second to take it to a tie-break with Haas clinching victory on his first match point after 79 minutes.

"It is difficult to remember another match on grass in my career that I played at such a consistently high level," said Haas, who lost a tight five-setter with Roger Federer at the French Open.

"Today I played as good as I can play and that is the only reason I won.

"Roland Garros was a boost and now this. After so many injuries it is important to feel you still have it."

Haas now goes on to play Zverev, the fifth-highest ranked German on the ATP tour, who produced the biggest upset of the day in coming from a set behind to beat Berdych 3-6 6-2 7-6(8).

"I had to change my game completely," admitted the 21-year-old Zverev.

"I had planned to play serve-and-volley, but after an hour I had not hit a single ball that way, so I made a lot of changes and it worked.

"He made a lot of unenforced errors which helped me.

"I just want to really enjoy my lunch now and relax a little bit."

Zverev brushed off losing the first set to take control of the second by breaking Berdych twice and then won the third set tie-breaker after more than two-and-a-half hours of often nerve-wracking tennis.

The German, ranked 45th in the world, finally took the third set and the tie with his fourth match-point and will now meet either fourth-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or compatriot Tommy Haas in the last eight.

"I don't care who I get in the next round, they are both big names," said the delighted Zverev.

"I have a day off now before the quarter-finals and I just want to relax and enjoy it.

"Perhaps it would be better for the spectators if I play Tommy, but both players are big names and I am just delighted to get this far."

Earlier in the day, Roger Federer's replacement Slovakia's Lukas Lacko took advantage of the French Open champion's no-show here to reach the second round.

World number two Federer announced his withdrawal late on Tuesday citing exhaustion after winning at Roland Garros, and his replacement in the draw took his chance with both hands.

Lucky loser Lacko beat Israel's Harel Levy 7-6(6) 6-2 to reach the second round where he will face Germany's Andreas Beck.

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AFP