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Federer falters at Montreal Masters

Roger Federer of Switzerland lunges to return to Gaston Claudio of Argentina at the Tennis Masters Canada on Tuesday in Montreal. PHOTO: AP

Wimbledon champion Roger Federer survived a mighty scare against Argentina's Gaston Gaudio in the first round of the US$2.45 million Montreal Masters on Tuesday, before hanging for a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 victory.

World No. 28 Gaudio led 4-2 in the final set with three break points against third seed Federer before the Swiss roared back, winning the next three games with timely assaults toward the net.

"It was difficult," Federer said afterwards.

The 21-year-old seemed a little rusty after a three-week lay-off following his Wimbledon victory and runners-up spot in Gstaad a week later.

The victory sets up a second-round match against world No. 60 Greg Rusedski of Britain, who was born in Montreal.

Like Federer, sixth seed Andy Roddick was forced to go the distance to get past world No. 62 Xavier Malisse, who played well to take the opening set before the American found his touch from the baseline in a 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 victory.

"I didn't serve particularly well and my forehand probably won the match for me," the 21 year-old Roddick said. "I was mad at losing the first set but just tried to forget about it."

Spanish second seed Juan Carlos Ferrero disposed of Frenchman Cyril Saulnier 6-4, 6-4 with greater ease, but France got its revenge over Spain when ninth seed Sebastien Grosjean crushed Fernando Vicente 6-3, 6-3.

Grosjean was happy with the win against the man who defeated him at this year's French Open.

"I have trained a lot harder since that defeat and was faster and more aggressive than at Roland Garros," Grosjean said.

Fifth seeded Australian Lleyton Hewitt also enjoyed an easy first match in the tournament, cruising past US qualifier Bob Bryan 6-2, 6-2.

However, Russia's Yevgeny Kafelnikov was forced to overcame a first set setback to win against another Frenchman, Gregory Carraz, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4, setting up a second-round tie against German eighth seed, Rainer Schuettler.

Dutch 15th seed Martin Verkerk -- the runner-up at the French Open in June -- also needed three sets to edge out Armenia's Sargis Sargsian 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.

American Vincent Spadea advanced to a second round match against France's Arnaud Clement with a 6-3 6-4 win over Raemon Sluiter.

Russia's Nikolay Davydenko ended the hopes of Canadian wildcard Frank Dancevic 7-6, 4-6, 6-3 in three tough sets and now faces the daunting prospect of a second-round match against world No. 1 and top seed Andre Agassi.

However, one Canadian wildcard did make it through the first round as Daniel Nestor completed a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Robby Ginepri, while 10th seeded Jiri Novak edged a three-set battle against Croatia's Mario Ancic 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.

Fresh off his victory at the Washington Classic last week, Tim Henman got off to a winning start after his 14th seeded opponent Fernando Gonzalez of Chile retired with a knee injury when the Briton had taken the first set 6-2.

The British No. 1 next lines up against David Nalbandian.

Zimbabwe's Wayne Black and Spain's Feliciano Lopez followed Henman into the second round after their respective opponents, Wayne Ferreira and Guillermo Coria were both forced to retire hurt.

Also advancing were Spain's Tommy Robredo and Argentina's Mariano Zabaleta after Robredo defeated South Korea's Lee Hyung-taik 6-4, 7-6 and Zabaleta destroyed Dutch Sjeng Schalken 6-1, 6-1.
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