Roger Federer battled back from the brink of a second-round exit at the Monte Carlo Masters to squeak past world number 137 Ruben Ramirez Hidalgo 6-1 3-6 7-6.

The world number one, who failed to retain his Australian Open crown earlier this year, was 5-4 and 30-15 down in the third set before his opponent crumbled under the pressure.

Federer had already recovered from being 5-1 down after a string of unforced errors brought him to the brink of defeat. But at 15-0 down on Federer's serve Ramirez Hidalgo played a needless through-the-legs shot wide that seemed to taunt the world number one, who subsequently won the next five games.

He eventually won the tiebreak 7-1, wrapping it up after two hours and three minutes on his first match point when Ramirez Hidalgo sent a forehand wide.

Federer next meets Frenchman Gael Monfils, who beat Croatia's Ivo Karlovic 7-6 6-1.

"I felt a bit slow out there. He played so badly in the first set that he almost faked me out," Federer said. "But when he served for the match it became tough on him."

"I'm disappointed by the way I played but tomorrow is a new match, a new day, a new opponent. And so far, it's six matches and six wins on clay so I'm happy."

On centre court, Federer started brightly, hitting 14 winners to take a one-sided first set in 31 minutes.

But Ramirez Hidalgo broke in the second game of the second set and opened up a 3-0 lead.

A nervous Federer then shrugged off two more break points but made 23 unforced errors and was trapped into a decider.

The Swiss dropped serve in the first game when he netted an easy volley and was 4-0 down after his opponent converted the second of his three break points.

Ramirez Hidalgo was caught out by the pressure and Federer rolled on despite having made 55 unforced errors.

Federer, a 12-times grand slam winner who has not had a coach since splitting with Tony Roche in May, has hired Spaniard Jose Higueras to improve his claycourt game.

Follow LIVE coverage of the entire Monte Carlo Masters on eurosport.yahoo.com!

Reuters