World number one Roger Federer sank to a surprise 3-6, 7-6 (7/4), 6-4 second-round defeat against unseeded Frenchman Julien Benneteau in the ATP Paris Masters.

The Swiss ace looked on course for the third round after cruising through the first set on Wednesday but came unstuck in the second as uncharacteristic errors began to creep into his game.

Benneteau, the world number 49, was roared on by his home crowd and secured the result of his life with an ace after bringing up match point by rattling a crosscourt backhand past the 15-time Grand Slam-winner.

"He was very strong at the end," said Federer of his 27-year-old opponent, who has never won an ATP title.

"Even in the second set, I don't think I had a break point. I can definitely play better but I can also play much worse. It wasn't a bad performance. Julien went out and got the victory. I had chances and missed them."

Second seed Rafael Nadal, meanwhile, admitted that he was "very lucky" after edging a titanic struggle with Spanish compatriot Nicolas Almagro 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-5 in three hours and 14 minutes.

"I played great tennis in only one moment, but in the rest of the match I didn't play well," said Nadal, who saved five match points after falling 5-6 and 0-40 down in the second set. "I am very lucky to be in the (next) round. That's the truth. I played bad but I won, which is the one positive thing," Nadal said.

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