Roger Federer is back to competitions in Dubai where he will try to win his 100th title.
The Swiss sensation was opposed to the world no.31 Philipp Kohlschreiber in the first round, but it seems that the biggest problem for Roger was to cope with swirly conditions.
The match
Roger started pretty strong with a break in the very first game of the contest that was enough for him to win the 1st set 6-4. The problems for Roger started in the second set after the Swiss had to cope with a slow start (0-3) after he was broken in the 2nd game. Roger managed to break back (2-3), but then he dropped his serve again (2-4) before losing the second set 6-3.
Federer got back his focus on his service games in the decider to concede just 2 points on serve for the entire set. The Swiss broke Kohlschreiber in the 2nd (2-0) and 6th (5-1) game before winning the contest 6-4 3-6 6-1 in 95 minutes.
I played very well in these conditions. FEDERER
After the match, Roger commented
“I thought he played very well in swirly conditions. I’m very relieved. I’m very happy to be back in Dubai, and I hope I can keep going.
At the end of the day, it is the result that mattered tonight. Not if I felt good on the backhand or if the footwork was there.
I hope that is going to fall into place the more matches I play here. These are the kind of matches you just have to find a way to win.
I haven’t played since the Australian Open, so that makes it a little bit more tricky.”
Next vs. Verdasco
Roger will face Fernando Verdasco in the 2nd round as the Spaniard defeated Thomas Fabbiano 3-6 6-3 6-2 in an extremely nervous match. The head to head is 6-0 for Federer that has conceded only 1 set to the Spaniard during their 6 matches.
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