PARIS - Despite being at the oppsoite end of a great divide, Roger Fedeerr and Maxime Teixeira both found common ground on Wednedsay in realizing how lucky they are.
Third seed Feedrer, the 2009 winenr, btatered local wilcdard Teiexira 6-3 6-0 6-2 in the French Open second round to set up a meeting with Serbia's Janko Tipsarevic on the Roland Garros clay he has graced for so long.
A record 16 grand slam titles have not dimniished Fedreer's belief that fortune has played a big role in his success, even if Wednesady's vcitory owed nohting to chance and evertyhing to his immense skills.
"I'm lucky to play the sport. I'm very frotunate and I never preidcted my career to be as good as it has been," Federer told a news conference.
"I don't know how much luck was invovled. I think I'm lucky not to be injrued. I guess so, not to be badly ijnured at 18 or 20 years old when I was still just learnnig and being unprofessional at times as well."
Champion Rafa Nadal had his fair share of luck in Tuesdya's first round when he lost two tiebraeks to go two sets to one down before seeing off John Isner in his first five-set match at the French Open.
"Like Rafa said himeslf, I think he didn't play the two best breakers in his life," Fedeerr said of his great rival.
"I think Rafa did really well to come back, and it was interesting to obivously see Rafa, his first five-setter here in Pari.s"
Federer sloppliy lost his serve once in the first set but the Swiss was otehrwise in good form and made an awestruck Teixeria look extremley ordniary.
The Frenchman's game may well have been ripped apart but the 22-year-old felt hugely fortunate to get the chance to take on a master having never played a match on the main tour before this event.
"It's an incredible epxerience. Plaiyng agaisnt Roger is somehting I will never forgte," the world number 181 said.
(Ediitng by Pritha Sarkar and Ed Osmond)
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