French Open

French Open: Sunday 25 May to Sunday 8 June
Coverage: BBC TV, BBCi, Radio 5 Live and the BBC Sport website.

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Federer stepped up a gear after losing the first set

Top seeds Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal both overcame tricky starts to find their best form and reach the third round of the French Open.

Federer dropped the opening set against clay-court specialist Albert Montanes before winning 6-7 (5-7) 6-1 6-0 6-4.

And three-time defending champion Nadal let an early lead slip in the first set but cruised to a 6-4 6-0 6-1 victory.

Fourth seed Nikolay Davydenko saw off Marat Safin but David Nalbandian and James Blake suffered shock defeats.

Federer admitted he initially struggled against Montanes after playing through drizzle in the first set.

"The conditions were tough," the world number one said. "Playing 10 games in the rain was not a whole lot of fun.  

"Montanes played well and it was hard going down a set but my reaction was good and I bounced back well.  

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"Once I had the edge, I felt more relaxed. It was a good test and after that first set I am very happy with my performance."

Davydenko had to fight hard in the first set against his fellow Russian Safin and saved three set points serving at 4-5 before taking it on a tie-break.

But from then on the two-time semi-finalist was always in control and completed a 7-6 (7-4) 6-2 6-2 win.

And fifth seed David Ferrer was completely dominant in his clash with Frenchman Fabrice Santoro, winning the first nine games and the last nine games of the match as he claimed a crushing 6-0 6-1 6-0 victory.

Former semi-finalist Nalbandian, however, suffered a humiliating loss to world number 145 Jeremy Chardy after being two sets up.

The sixth-seeded Argentine was in total control but could not withstand a fightback as the Frenchman prevailed 3-6 4-6 6-2 6-1 6-2.

Nalbandian even broke first in the decider but was unable to capitalise.

Blake, the seventh seed, also made an early exit, losing 7-6 (7-2) 3-6 7-5 6-3 to Latvian teenager Ernests Gulbis.

World number 80 Gulbis had won back-to-back matches just twice this year before arriving in Paris, but chalked up his first win over a top-10 player this season.

"I felt like I could have won this match and had better success here," said Blake.

"Now I have to forget about this and move forward and figure out what happened in time for the grass-court and hard-court season."

Nalbandian said after his defeat that he had struggled with a leg injury, but Chardy - Wimbledon junior champion in 2005 - was ecstatic with the best win of his career.

"It is incredible," said the 21-year-old from Pau. "I was 2-0 down and then the next two sets I play unbelievably.

"Then in the middle of the fourth set I started to have cramps. I just told myself I had nothing to lose and that I had to go for it, get him at the net and put doubt into his mind."

Ninth seed Stanislas Wawrinka continued his good form with a 7-6 (7-3) 7-6 (7-4) 6-1 win over Marin Cilic.

And 25th seed Lleyton Hewitt also made progress, beating Mardy Fish 6-4 6-3 6-2.