Federer finds touch after faltering opening set

Roger Federer, at No 4 the highest seed left in the top half of the men's singles draw, advanced to the third round with a 7-5, 6-1, 6-1 win against his Austrian friend Stephan Koubek after an edgy opening set.

As John McEnroe observed: "Federer showed what he can do, but he also showed things that could help his opponents. There are still some questions to be answered."

The blond, left-handed Koubek's crisp, low ground-strokes were difficult for Federer to deal with early in the match, when the Swiss player was struggling for range and timing. This was particularly evident in the sixth game, when Federer double-faulted to 0-40 and then played a forehand wide after a brief rally on the first break point.

Both players held to love, and then Koubek, serving for the set at 5-3, decided to attack the net at 15-0 and hit a forehand volley long. The outcome of this sudden departure from his customary style appeared to shake the Austrian's confidence, but he persisted with the tactic for the rest of the game, as if drawn to the net in spite of his better judgement.

He missed a forehand from Federer's return at 15-15, and then double-faulted to 15-40. Federer converted the first break point, slicing a backhand return that stayed so low that Koubek was unable to clear the net with his own backhand.

Before levelling to 5-5, Federer offered Koubek the first set point by clipping a forehand half-volley over the baseline. The Austrian was unable to take advantage, hitting a backhand long under pressure.

Federer broke for 6-5 with an impressive cross-court backhand and served out the set to 15 after 34 minutes with a backhand volley.

Koubek netted a backhand to lose his serve in the opening game of the second set, after which Federer's progress was only delayed at 5-1 by the first drops of rain to interrupt the tournament. Koubek was almost swept under the tarpaulin as the ground staff raced to cover the court from the shower. When the players returned after 31 minutes, Koubek lost his serve and the set.

Federer then controlled the majority of the points in the third set, breaking for 3-1 and 5-1 and serving out the match after 77 minutes.

Next up is the 21-year-old Mardy Fish, who accounted for an American compatriot, Jan-Michael Gambill, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4. Fish, as Federer noted, is adept on fast to medium pace courts, and the courts here are playing true.

"It's quite amazing," Federer said, "I played on grass in Halle [Germany], and there I got bad bounces all the time, such bad bounces that you're totally lost. But here, on the match courts and also on the practice courts, you don't get any bad bounces."

He added: "Best of five set matches are too tough to think too far ahead for me.

"I know I'm the best seed but I don't look at myself like I'm already in the final. Other guys have good chances to do the same and the next round is difficult with Fish. I cannot look too far ahead."