Federer downs Djokovic in opening clay challenge

By Bill Scott Apr 17, 2006, 15:34 GMT

Roger Federer of Switzerland returns a ball during his first round match against qualifier Novak Djokovic at the ATP Master Series Monte Carlo Open tennis tournament in Monaco, Monday 17 April 2006. EPA/CHRISTOPHE KARABA

Monte Carlo - Roger Federer survived a stern test to open his season on clay with a fighting 6-3, 2-6, 6-3 first-round win over Serbian up-and-comer Novak Djokovic at the 2.08-million-euro Monte Carlo Masters Monday.

Federer, who already owns four titles this season with his lone loss among 29 wins coming in February to Rafael Nadal, had to overcome a lapse in the second set as the teenage talent rallied.

But Federer re-established order in the third set on a sunny afternoon at the seaside country club, breaking in the second game.

Djokovic showed he will be a future contender as he saved a match point in the eighth game and two more in the ninth before his world number 1 opponent closed it out from a forehand error from the Serbian.

Federer is aiming to win the French Open for the first time and is playing a full clay schedule in preparation.

He suffered one of only four losses in 2005 at the venue, losing a quarter-final to Richard Gasquet of France.

Argentine David Nalbandian began with a convincing 6-4, 6-4 performance over Belgian Xavier Malisse to reach the second round alongside Federer.

Third seed Nalbandian spent one hour, 20 minutes in earning his third victory without a defeat against Malisse in the pair's first meeting outside of a Grand Slam after playing at Wimbledon and the Australian Open.

Nalbandian was playing only his second clay match of the season after one rubber in Davis Cup in February.

Tenth seed Radek Stepanek advanced over Russian Evgeny Korolev 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).

Kristof Vliegen scored the first upset of the week little more than four hours into opening day as he rallied to overcome 14th seed Jarkko Nieminen 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5).

Nieminen, ranked a career-high 20th - best ever for a Finn - began at a torrid pace in the first set, but found himself in a battle after the Belgian settled in.

Vliegel took the third set to a tiebreaker, where he advanced into the second round as Nieminen put a short volley into the net after two hours, 10 minutes.

French hopes suffered early blows as another Belgian, Olivier Rochus, upset crowd favourite Gael Monfils 4-6, 6-4, 6-1.

The national hope was joined on the sidelines as clouds rolled in from the Mediterranean when Czech Jan Hernych eliminated Julien Benneteau 7-6 (11-9), 4-6, 7-6 (7-4).

Michael Llodra saved face, moving ahead over Serb Boris Pashanski 6-3, 6-0.

Argentine Jose Acasuso followed compatriot Nalbandian's lead as he beat Italy's Filippo Volandri 6-4, 6-2. Spain's Alberto Martin put out Ivo Karlovic of Croatia 6-4, 7-6 (7-3).