Federer bounces back after being stung by first-set loss in French Open

Albert Montanes of Spain discovered that to his cost as Federer chugged and then fairly purred through to the French Open third round with a 6-7 6-1 6-0 6-4 victory.

Swiss roll: Federer (above) recovered to slam Montanes

 
Montanes, ranked 60 in the world, had the nerve to take the first set off the world number one who is bidding to lift the only Grand Slam not to have occupied his trophy cabinet.  

He paid for it by becoming the victim of two of the best clay court sets Federer has played all year.  

Federer explained it in his own phlegmatic way.  "It was tough going down a set but I bounced back well," he said. "The conditions were tough and playing 10 games in the rain was not a whole lot of fun."  

In fact, Federer could not have looked more out of sorts in that first set.  

The drizzle was falling, the French crowd were restless, the balls were heavy, the atmosphere was humid.  

And Federer was leaking points all over Court Philippe Chatrier with wayward groundstrokes.  

Montanes, 27, took full advantage, especially when play was suspended at 5-5 for more than an hour and a half due to the persistent rain.  

If anything, Federer's work against a man ranked 60 in the world was even sloppier when they returned.  

In the tie-break he dumped one forehand tamely into the net and drifted another carelessly long to lose 7/5.  

An upset looked possible but champions at Grand Slams invariably have the facility to move through the gears, and in the second and third sets Federer, who had a disappointing start to 2008, winning just one title at Estoril on clay in April when it also rained persistently, stepped up the power and the style.  

In the fourth set Federer broke the Montanes serve in the third game and from then on it was a lost cause for the Spaniard.  

Federer finished it off in style with an impressive ace and he now faces one of his best pals on tour, big-serving Croat Mario Ancic, in the third round. 

"He is a tough opponent and he has a good game," Federer said. "He's been playing okay. He's a good friend of mine and it should be a good match."  

Ancic might like to know, although probably not, that Federer marks the third round as the point when he begins to enjoy a tournament.  

Federer said: "I always feel easier after the first two rounds.  

"It is slowing down in the locker room, the first pressure rounds are over and you can focus on enjoying the tournament and not just wanting not to lose. You start going for your shots a little more."