Roger Federer was taken to three sets before finally seeing off the challenge of Croatian Ivo Karlovic at the Paris Masters.
Swiss star to face Nalbandian in next round
Roger Federer was taken to three sets before finally seeing off the challenge of Ivo Karlovic at the Paris Masters.
In the second close meeting of the duo in less than a week, the world number one was forced to work hard to seal his progression through to round three.
After losing out in two tie-breakers in the semi-finals at Basel last week, Croat Karlovic managed a break of serve to win the second set.
However, Federer was not to be beaten, coming out on top in the decider to clinch a hard-fought 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 in the French capital.
Not easy
"It was not easy but I had a lot more opportunities than in Basel and I played well at times," he said afterwards.
The Swiss star will next face the man who beat him in the final of the last Masters event in Madrid - David Nalbandian.
Argentine Nalbandian had earlier advanced with a 6-4 6-4 victory over Spain's Carlos Moya, who can now not reach the season-ending Masters Cup event in Shanghai.
"I'm looking forward to playing Nalbandian again," Federer said.
"Facing him in the third round is easier than playing him in a final because he's always a lot more dangerous in finals."
Nadal eases through
Rafael Nadal is also through to the next round after a routine victory over Filippo Volandri.
The second seed won 6-3 6-1 to set up a clash with Stanislas Wawrinka, who defeated Juan Ignacio Chela by the same score.
"I didn't do anything special; I played a normal match and tried to get confidence. I want to get more feeling on the ball," the Spaniard said after his win.
