Fed cruises after blip

Roger Federer eased his way into the third round of the French Open – but only after a first-set scare against Spain’s Albert Montanes.

The world number one eventually won 6-7 (5/7) 6-1 6-0 6-4 after being stung into action when he lost the first-set tie-break following another extended rain break at Roland Garros.

Federer’s work was sloppy in that first set against a man ranked 60 in the world. In the tie-break he dumped one forehand tamely into the net and drifted another carelessly long to lose the breaker 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 stepped up the power and the style.

In the fourth set Federer, bidding to lift the only grand slam he has not won, broke the Montanes serve in the third game and from then on it was a lost cause for the Spaniard, Federer finishing proceedings with an impressive ace.