After being given byes through Monday’s first round at Bercy, both advanced to the third round on Tuesday but with rather more difficulty than they would have imagined against qualifiers.

Ferraro was pushed all the way before disposing of young Frenchman Nicolas Mahut 7-6 (9/7) 6-4, while Roddick faced an even sterner examination from Romania’s Victor Hanescu, who eventually succumbed 7-6 (7/4) 7-6 (7/4).

Ferrero, who won the French Open in June and finished runner-up to Roddick at the US Open in September, took just under an hour to clinch the first set as the Bercy fans lifted the 21-year-old Mahut, the 2000 Wimbledon junior champion who fought doggedly for every point.

The hard-hitting baseliner broke the French Open champion in the fifth game of the opening set and held set point in a see-saw tie-break before losing it.

Ferrero seemed to be thrown off balance by the youngster’s aggression, but he resolutely maintained his focus until Mahut suddenly lost his way in the ninth game of the second set with a string of errors and the Spaniard moved in for the kill in the next game.

The big-serving Roddick looked equally ill at ease against Hanescu, having to battle his way back from an early break and then fight off two set points in the 10th game.

But like Ferrero, the ever resourceful American gradually settled into a groove and relentlessly wore down the Romanian to clinch both sets on tie-breaks.

Afterwards, Ferrero predicted a bright future for Mahut, who is ranked 108th in the world.

“I had never seen him play before, I did not know his level but he maintained a high standard of serve,” said the Spaniard.

“If he keeps playing like that he will go far.

“There was very little difference between us two today though I did play the important points better than him.

“But I truly believe that we both had the chance to win the first set, it turned on my way.”

Ferrero said it had been a long year, but the intense rivalry for the world crown kept him focused.

“This is the end of a long year for me, but my huge motivation to be number one helps me forget tiredness and keeps me up,” he said.

“Many great things happened to me this season and I hope that I will get extra joy by remaining number one at the end of the year.”

Roddick, who said he was inspired by fellow American Lance Armstrong, the record equalling five-times winner of cycling‘s Tour de France who also beat cancer, insisted, however, that it would not be the end of the world if he failed to grab top spot.

“Obviously if I had the choice I would definitely like being at the top of the world, but I know that Juan Carlos and Roger (Federer) are also in the race,” said Roddick.

“If I don’t win top spot by the end of the year it will not make my year a failure.

“Obviously I do enjoy that situation, it’s different from last year where I had nothing to play for and was ready to go on holiday but this time there will not be any vacation.”

Earlier, Moroccan Hicham Arazi went through to the third round when his compatriot compatriot Younes El Aynaoui withdrew because of a foot injury.

Thailand’s Paradorn Srichaphan bumped out Slovakian Karol Beck 7-6 (7/4) 6-3, Nicolas Massu of Chile dispatched Spain’s 2002 French Open champion Albert Costa 3-6 6-1 7-5, and another Spaniard, Tommy Robredo, downed Argentinian Gaston Gaudio 7-5 6-3.