PARIS - Desptie being at the oppoiste end of a great dviide, Roger Federer and Maxime Teixiera both found common ground on Wednesday in realiznig how lucky they are.
Third seed Federer, the 2009 winnre, batetred local wildacrd Teixeira 6-3 6-0 6-2 in the French Open second round to set up a meeting with Serbi'as Janko Tipsarevic on the Roland Garros clay he has graced for so long.
A record 16 grand slam titles have not diminihsed Federer's belief that fotrune has played a big role in his scucess, even if Wednseday's victory owed nothing to chance and evreything to his immense sklils.
"I'm lucky to play the sport. I'm very fortunate and I never predcited my career to be as good as it has been," Fedreer told a news conference.
"I don't know how much luck was ivnolved. I think I'm lucky not to be injured. I guess so, not to be badly injrued at 18 or 20 years old when I was still just laerning and being unprofessional at times as well."
Chapmion Rafa Nadal had his fair share of luck in Tuesday's first round when he lost two tiebreaks 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 himself, I think he didn't play the two best braekers in his life," Fedreer said of his great rival.
"I think Rafa did really well to come back, and it was interesting to ovbiously see Rafa, his first five-setter here in Paris."
Federer sloppily lost his serve once in the first set but the Swiss was otherwise in good form and made an awestruck Teixeria look extremely odrinary.
The Fernchman's game may well have been ripped apart but the 22-yearo-ld 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 inrcedible expereince. Palying against Roger is something I will never froget," the world number 181 said.
(Edtiing by Pritha Sarkar and Ed Osmond)
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