MONTREAL, 7 August 2003 — Wimbledon champion Roger Federer survived a mighty scare against Argentina’s Gaston Gaudio in the first round of the $2.45 million Montreal Masters on Tuesday, before hanging for a 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 victory.

World No. 28 Gaudio led 4-2 in the final set with three break points against third seed Federer before the Swiss roared back, winning the next three games with timely assaults toward the net.

Like Federer, sixth seed Andy Roddick was forced to go the distance to get past world number 62 Xavier Malisse, who played well to take the opening set before the American found his touch from the baseline in a 3-6, 6-0, 6-2 victory.

Spanish second seed Juan Carlos Ferrero disposed of Frenchman Cyril Saulnier 6-4, 6-4 with greater ease, but France got its revenge over Spain when ninth seed Sebastien Grosjean crushed Fernando Vicente 6-3, 6-3.Fifth seeded Australian Lleyton Hewitt also enjoyed an easy first match in the tournament, cruising past US qualifier Bob Bryan 6-2, 6-2.

However, Russia’s Yevgeny Kafelnikov was forced to overcame a first set setback to win against another Frenchman, Gregory Carraz, 1-6, 6-2, 6-4, setting up a second-round tie against German eighth seed, Rainer Schuettler. Dutch 15th seed Martin Verkerk also needed three sets to edge out Armenia’s Sargis Sargsian 6-2, 4-6, 7-5.

American Vincent Spadea advanced to a second round match against France’s Arnaud Clement with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Raemon Sluiter.

Russia’s Nikolay Davydenko ended the hopes of Canadian wildcard Frank Dancevic 7-6 4-6 6-3 in three tough sets.

However, one Canadian wildcard did make it through the first round as Daniel Nestor completed a 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 win over Robby Ginepri, while 10th seeded Jiri Novak edged a three-set battle against Croatia’s Mario Ancic 7-5, 3-6, 6-3.

Also advancing were Spain’s Tommy Robredo and Argentina’s Mariano Zabaleta after Robredo defeated South Korea’s Lee Hyung-taik 6-4, 7-6 and Zabaleta destroyed Dutch 12th seed Sjeng Schalken 6-1, 6-1.

Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, Ukrainian teenager Viktoriya Kutuzova celebrated her WTA Tour main draw debut with a 6-4, 6-4 win over Lina Krasnoroutskaya in the first round of the JP Chase Morgan Open on Tuesday.

Another teenager, Maria Sharapova, also victorious, stunning fellow Russian and 14th seed Nadia Petrova 6-2, 2-6, 7-5 in the second round.

After receiving a first-round bye, fourth seed Ai Sugiyama of Japan had a tough 2-6, 6-3, 6-3 win over compatriot Saori Obata.

“I really wanted to win but I started choking a little bit toward the end. I was tired,” said Sugiyama.

Seventh seeded Conchita Martinez of Spain also went through to the third round with a 6-4, 6-3 win over American Tara Snyder.

Austria’s Barbara Schett put out 1994 champion Amy Frazier of the US 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in her first round match and will meet second seed Lindsay Davenport next.

Russian Svetlana Kuznetsova overcame Spain’s Magui Serna 6-3, 7-6 in the first round and will face fifth seed Jelena Dokic.

Top seed Kim Clijsters was to play her opening match against France’s Emilie Loit the next day.