But Federer remained serene throughout and, like a true champion, raised his level when it counted, breaking with a backhandpass in game 12 to take the vital set.
During one sequence, Nash fed Ryan Callahan, who spun around as he drove to the left post and sent a perfect no-look backhandpass across the crease to a hard-charging Derek Stepan.
Another hold to love put Federer within a game of the 23-minute opening set and he took it at the second time of asking by unleashing a rasping cross-court backhand to pass Soderling at the net.