Wimbledon champion Roger Federer saved seven match points in a battle royal with Australian Scott Draper before prevailing 4-6 6-3 7-6 to reach the second round of the Cincinnati Masters Series on Tuesday.

Federer, the world number two, needed four match points of his own to close out a dramatic final set tiebreak 12-10.

In contrast, world number three Juan Carlos Ferrero was in serene form, showing Federer how to negotiate first round obstacles by blitzing Russian Nikolay Davydenko 6-0 6-2.

Australians Lleyton Hewitt, the fifth seed, and Mark Philippoussis were due to meet in the second round here, but that prospect was killed off when they both lost in three sets -- a fate which also befell ninth seeded Thai Paradorn Srichaphan.

No player has saved as many match points as Federer since Marcelo Rios survived seven against Ivan Ljubicic last year.

When journeyman Draper, the world number 114, took a 6-2 lead in the final set tiebreak on Tuesday, few would have backed even third-seeded Federer to escape.

But the Swiss, who can fluctuate between delightful brilliance and infuriating indifference, chose exactly that time to get serious.

A stunning topspin lob on the run and an overhead smash helped avert the immediate danger.

Federer then wasted two match points of his own with volley errors before Draper's seventh -- and ultimately last -- match point went begging as Federer sent down a second serve ace.

At 10-9, Draper saved one more match point himself before Federer finally summoned enough concentration to finish the enthralling contest.

Draper's backhand service return looped just long of the baseline and Federer, who had earlier saved two match points with Draper leading 6-5 in the final set, claimed the tiebreak 12-10.

"I have never survived that many match points before," Federer told reporters.

"Normally, when you are 6-2 down in the tiebreak, you think it should be all over. But I thought I played well on the matchpoints and deserved to win in the end."

Draper added: "Roger is unpredictable...as it turned out, the unexpected happened. But I feel I can hold my head high."

LACKLUSTRE HEWITT

Hewitt, whose renowned aggression was conspicuous by its absence, said he "did not feel 100 percent" after allowing Belgian Xavier Malisse to come back from a set down in their first round match.

The former US Open and Wimbledon champion, who is enduring a bleak year by his standards, was broken twice in the first three games of the final set and eventually lost 6-3 4-6 2-6.

Compatriot Philippoussis was beaten 6-1 3-6 4-6 by American Mardy Fish, while Srichaphan could not shake off Spain's Feliciano Lopez, who won 6-7 6-4 7-6.

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