Basel (Switzerland), Nov. 2: Roger Federer made an imposing start on his hometown stage, with the top seed advancing unhindered into the second round of the Swiss Indoors on Monday when his opponent retired with an ankle injury.
World number two Federer was in total command against 48th-ranked Aleksandr Dolgopolov of the Ukraine leading 6-4, 5-2 and serving for the match.
But the youngster’s tumble on the hardcourt as he pulled level at 15-15 by unsuccessfully trying for a Federer winner brought about an abrupt end after 48 minutes as Dolgopolov hurt his right ankle.
The Swiss was sympathetic to the situation. “I missed this event five years ago with a similar injury,” he said. “Ever since, I’ve always had my ankles taped.”
The three-time champion will await an opponent for the second round as Serb Janko Tipsarevic plays Denis Istromin of Uzbekistan.
Federer has a point to prove his week after Novak Djokovic, this years’ second seed, defeated him in the 2009 final to end a run of three consecutive Basel titles.