Roger Federer takes a flying start at his Swiss Indoors Basel campaign – Tennis News
Two-time defending champion, Roger Federer, had another thumping beginning to one of his favourite tournament, Swiss Indoors Basel, on Monday. The reigning world number one displayed his supreme class once again on his home soil
and cruised through the opening round battle against Benjamin Becker, settling the clash in straight sets, 7-5, 6-3, to clear the opening round.
The Swiss Maestro is no doubt the best tennis player on the indoor hard courts and he has proven this truth five times in Basel. Federer held the Swiss indoor trophy for three successive years, from 2006 to 2008, before he lost
the 2009 final to the Serbian number one, Novak Djokovic. The 31-year-old tennis genius regained his glory in the last two years and has retained the ATP World Tour 500 title at home.
Federer stepped on the indoor hard courts of St. Jakobshalle as the hot favourite for defending his championship title and he indeed took off his campaign as a true champion. The Swiss Maestro took merely 88 minutes to wrap up
his comprehensive victory in style and moved a step closer to the quarter-final rounds in style.
“He did well. He did serve well when it was important, so credit to him,” Federer appreciated the effort put in by his opponent, “When I did have my small chances, I hope I could’ve done a little bit better, but overall I’m still
very happy with tonight’s performance.”
Eyeing for his sixth championship triumph in Basel, Federer cited: “Ever since my first win here, the pressure has actually gone instead of increased, in my opinion. I feel I can come here and just perform, enjoy and try my best.
It’s pretty simple, actually, the approach.”
As per the ATP points ranking system, Federer has to retain his Swiss Indoors Basel title to defend his ranking points and the Swiss Maestro is concerned to do it for remaining at the world number one spot. He further added: “I
know if I lose, I lose points, but I’ve so long gone over this hurdle of having to defend points and this whole rankings system.”
The hot favourite Swiss will play either Thomaz Bellucci or Go Soeda in the second round of the tournament later this week.
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