Down 5-1 in third, Federer escapes upset bid

Roger Federer rallied from 5-1 down in third set to defeat Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (1) Wednesday in the second round of the Monte Carlo Masters. The 12-time Grand Slam champion, who twice came within two points of defeat, won five straight games to take a 6-5 lead before heading to the tiebreaker. Federer then won the match when the 137th-ranked Ramirez Hidalgo hit a forehand long. "He really pushed me," Federer said. "He made it hard for me. [link]