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11/2/09 7:45 PM | Ricky Dimon
Roger Federer dismisses Olivier Rochus in straight sets to reach the Basel second round on Monday. Next up for the world No. 1 is Andreas Seppi.
Roger Federer returned to ATP tournament tennis on Monday evening for the first time since losing the U.S. Open final to Juan Martin Del Potro.
After being honored in his home country for his record-setting 15 Grand Slam singles titles, Federer resumed his winning ways, defeating Olivier Rochus 6-3, 6-4 in the first round of the Davidoff Swiss Indoors. Basel's No. 1 seed needed just one hour and six minutes to set up a meeting with familiar foe Andreas Seppi.
Rochus managed to hang with Federer in the very early stages of the match, but the 5'6'' Belgian eventually surrendered serve at 2-3 in the first set. Federer fired a perfect forehand pass at 30-30 and converted the break on the next point when his opponent sent a backhand wide. The world No. 1, who fired six aces in the first frame of play, did not lose a point in either of his next two service games as he closed out the set with ease. Rochus, meanwhile, committed only three unforced errors, but he had nothing with which to trouble Federer and he failed to strike a single winner.
It was all over for the world No. 61 midway through the second set. Serving at 2-2, Rochus sprinted to a 40-0 lead before he came unglued. Federer stormed back to deuce, saved another game point on Rochus' advantage, then won the next two points--and the game--with a huge forehand winner followed by a Rochus forehand in the net. The underdog took care of his own serve the rest of the way, but he never had any chance on return. One more relatively routine hold for Federer at 5-4 finished off the proceedings in style.
Federer wrapped up his day with 12 aces and one double-fault. He won 32 of 37 first-serve points while never giving Rochus a single break-point opportunity.
Seppi, who outlasted Stephane Bohli--another Swiss--in three sets on Monday afternoon, is winless in five career tries against Federer. They have already faced each other on three previous occasions this season, including most recently on the clay courts of Monte-Carlo, where Federer prevailed 6-4, 6-4. The 15-time Grand Slam champion is a perfect 11-0 in sets against the 51st-ranked Italian.
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little rusty at the begining he missed some doable stuff, he needs these matches before the start of the master ,so it is good that he playing doubles as well, but his serve was pretty impressive, what was nice yesterday was the atmospher was like Nadal in madrid this year,just wanted to celebrate thier good boy,seemed like gathering or something i think he deserves that after the akwared but wonderfull year
so good to see him!
tennislover , 11/3/09 9:43 AM
hi zoey! Federites! mwah!!! Didn't see the match, but (fabulously) happy with the results (so far...) LOL ... Be nice to sit back and start watching some tennis again with Roger doing the Federer thing... :) Go Rog go!!!
sky , 11/3/09 12:30 PM
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always appreciate your match reports, rickydimon. ( tho i already watched the match twice ) roger did serve well...ahhh, it's nice to have a favorite win for a change!
GO Roger!!
zoey234 , 11/2/09 10:38 PM