By DPA
Paris : World No.1 Roger Federer squeezed out a difficult win to reach the third round of the French Open as darkness fell Wednesday evening, then warned officials: don't take me for granted.
The Swiss started his match late after rain and found himself in a third-set fight against local hero Thierry Ascione, who finally bowed out in the second-round battle 6-1, 6-2, 7-6 (10-8) after saving five match points.
The well-ordered Federer does not like surprises. And the decision to send the match onto court at around 7 p.m. (local time) did not sit well.
Federer persevered, overcoming Ascione's late challenge to win a tie-breaker and the straight-sets victory.
"I know that they (officials) want to get the match over and done with," said the 10-time Grand Slam winner. "What I don't like is if they think that, okay, you know I'm the favourite, I should win this in straight sets.
"Let's get Roger's match over and done with and then he's happy, he's got a day of rest.
"What if it doesn't turn out this way, you know? I'll be very upset."
Federer said his late call to action at the weather-hit event was not to his liking.
"I was already not too happy, you know, playing so late and starting at such a late time. I can hardly see the ball. I can't believe other players still played after me (finished matches) because it was so dark," he said.
"Then you had the rain and you had the bad conditions on top of that. It's just a very hard situation to cope with."
Federer has won four clay titles in Hamburg, whose weather often yields similar heavy conditions.
"Clay stays clay," said Fededer aiming to win Paris for the first time to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time.
"Conditions are slow and cold, and it just plays more like Hamburg. It does pay a benefit to play and to be able to play in all conditions."
An anticipated weekend change to sun has the Swiss pondering a shift in strategy.
"The interesting situation will come when the hot weather comes again. The body is now used to cool weather, and when the ball starts flying around again, then you're going to see maybe some upsets and some more dangerous matches for everybody."