Federer survives a Pless scare

Dubai: World No 1 and three-time champion Roger Federer came through one of his toughest tests here with a 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3 win against Dubai-based Kristian Pless in the opening round of the Dubai Duty Free Men's Open last night.

Federer, who lost his Dubai crown after three years to Rafael Nadal last year, looked a bit rusty in patches on a cool evening at the Dubai Tennis Stadium.

The Swiss ace, playing in his first tournament four weeks after winning the Australian Open, was content in getting the ball across to a player who was the world junior champion in 1999.

Both players held serve throughout the first to push the set into the tie-break. Federer showed great control over his shots, sending down two aces and pushing the 86th-ranked Pless into a couple of unforced errors for a 4-0 lead. The Swiss master won the tie-break 7-2.

In the second, Federer looked unusually vulnerable and rusty and Pless grabbed the opportunity with both hands to break Federer in the fourth game, thanks mainly to three unforced errors from the Swiss ace. The Dane, who lives in Dubai with his parents, made use of his huge serve to take the second set 6-3.

However, Federer pushed his Danish opponent in the final set and got the break he wanted in the fourth game to go 3-1 clear when Pless hit an easy forehand wide off the net.

Great fun

The world No 1 then served out the set and match to register his 37th straight win.

"It is great fun to play against the best player in the world," Pless said later.

"I was sort of scared to come here all the way from the US and get my back kicked by the best player in the world. Luckily, he was not at his very best and that helped me stay along with him," Pless added.

Federer was simply pleased to go through to the second round. "It's the usual goodbye first round here," Federer joked. "I don't want to get frustrated with the way I played as I have been off for the past four weeks," Federer stated.

"I am getting some match practice now and that gives me a good feel as I make my way back heading into the French Open. I am just happy to be through to the next round here."

The top seed will now run into the winner of the match between qualifier Oliver Marach and Daniele Bracciali.

In other matches, Igor Andreev rallied to beat Marc Gicquel 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5 while Florent Serra caused an upset when he defeated Jonas Bjorkman 5-7, 6-3, 6-2.

Order of Play: (February 27)

Centre Court: (Start at 2 pm) Philipp Kohlschreiber vs Gilles Simon; Nikolay Davydenko vs Younes Al Aynaoui; (7 pm) Marcos Baghdatis vs Rafael Nadal; Radek Stepanek vs Tommy Haas.

Court No 1: (Start at 2 pm) David Ferrer vs Robin Soderling; (4 pm) Mikhail Youzhny vs Jarkko Nieminen; Kristof Vliegen vs Novak Djokovic; (7 pm) Nikolay Davydenko/Mikhail Youzhny vs Yves Allegro/Roger Federer.

Court No 3: (Start at 2 pm) Andreas Seppi vs Rainer Schuettler; Oliver Marach vs Daniele Bracciali; (4.30 pm) Jeff Coetzee/Rogier Wassen vs Paul Hanley/Kevin Ullyett.

Results: (February 26)

Singles: Dominik Hrbaty bt Omar Behroozian 6-1, 6-2; Igor Andreev bt Marc Gicquel 6-7 (4), 6-4, 7-5; Tomas Berdych bt Mohammad Al Gareeb 3-6, 6-3, 6-2; Olivier Rochus bt Hyung-Taik Lee 7-6 (4), 6-2; Florent Serra bt Jonas Bjorkman 5-7, 6-3, 6-3; Roger Federer bt Kristian Pless 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-3.

Doubles: Marcos Baghdatis/Gilles Simon bt Igor Andreev/David Ferrer 7-5, 6-4; Olivier Rochus/Kristof Vliegen bt Omar Behroozian/Mohammad Nader 6-2, 6-1.