(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-04-17 10:07

ESTORIL, Portugal: Roger Federer made a solid start to his clay-court season, relying on the counsel of provisional coach Jose Higueras to advance into the second round of the Estoril Open on Tuesday.

The Swiss top seed, seeking his first title of a slow-starting season, overcame gritty Belgian opponent Olivier Rochus of Belgium 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Roger Federer of Switzerland celebrates his win against Olivier Rochus of Belgium during the Estoril Open tennis tournament in Lisbon April 15, 2008. [Agencies]

"Getting through a match like this is good, especially being down a set," said the winner, who next plays Victor Hanescu of Romania.

"I had to come back and fight, but the reward was great. I played well toward the end," said the Swiss, who lamented throwing out chances in the first set, double-faulting away a break point against Rochus.

"This is a bit of a relief," confessed the Estoril debutant, playing here due to spring scheduling in anticipation of the Beijing Olympics.

"I was under a lot of pressure today (Tuesday), at the end especially."

Federer is playing a non-Masters ATP spring clay event for the first time since winning the Munich title in 2003.

He is guided this week under a temporary arrangement with Spain's past clay master Higueras, former coach of Pete Sampras, Jim Courier and Michael Chang - the latter two French Open champions.

Federer is keen - but not desperate - to correct an historic imbalance in his current season. It's the first time since 2000 that he's gone the first three months of a season without a trophy.

The 12-time Grand Slam champion is currently embroiled in his second-longest trophy dry spell (five events) since late 2002 and early 2003 when he went seven tournaments without a title.

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