The Swiss maestro, after an opening round bye at the Masters claycourt event, was playing his first match since the end of March and only just edged out the big-serving 21-year-old, who rocketed down 21 aces on the Manolo Santana show court.
Rafa Nadal made much smoother progress into the last 16, dispatching former world number three Nikolay Davydenko 6-2 6-2 before joining widespread criticism of the unfamiliar blue courts, a controversial innovation at this year's tournament.Nadal, Federer move on in Madrid
Nadal's great rival Novak Djokovic slammed organisers and the ATP after his laboured second-round win on Tuesday, saying centre court at the futuristic Magic Box arena was too slippery and complaining that players' concerns were being ignored.
Nadal echoed the world number one's gripes and called for the traditional red clay to be reinstated next year.
Officials argue that the blue courts make it easier for TV viewers to follow the yellow balls.
"The court is not one that makes you feel comfortable," Nadal, who won back-to-back clay titles in Monte Carlo and Barcelona before heading to Madrid, told Spanish TV.
"You have to be realistic," added the world number two French Open champion, who now faces 15th-seeded compatriot Fernando Verdasco for a place in Friday's quarter-finals.
"The court is a difficult court, it's very slippery and it makes supporting movements and getting back to defend very tough.
"But the only thing we can do now is turn the page and we are not going to get the red courts back tomorrow so we have to adapt to the blue courts and the conditions as well as possible and hope for a change next year."
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