Top seed Roger Federer was pushed all the way as he took three sets to get past Czech qualifier Ivo Minar in the first round of the Dubai Open. The world number one needed almost two hours to prevail 6-7 (7-5) 6-3 7-6 (7-5) against a player who has only won five matches in his ATP Tour career.
He faces former world number one Juan Carlos Ferrero in the second round.
Fourth seed Andre Agassi won his second round match, beating Feliciano Lopez of Spain 6-1 6-3.
It took Federer 53 minutes to earn his first break point against Minar, which helped him claw his way back in the second set.
He was broken as he served for victory, but won the final set tie-break.
"It does you good to win matches like this. He played well and I definitely didn't have my best day," Federer said.
"The way I was feeling and playing, I wasn't that confident because I didn't have the rhythm and it was tough to get into good rallies.
"But it was close and I'm happy I'm through."
Eighth-seeded Croatian Ivan Ljubicic had an easier time as he beat France's Jean-Rene Lisnard 7-5 6-3 in their first-round match.
In the second round, sixth-seeded Russian Nikolay Davydenko beat Slovakia's Dominik Hrbaty 7-5 6-3.
And Spanish fifth seed Tommy Robredo saw off Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic 6-2 6-4.
MMIX
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