Federer’s Basel Campaign kick off – Baghdatis downs seed

Written by: Staff on 1st November 2011

Federer’s Basel Campaign kick off – Baghdatis downs seed

Switzerland's Roger Federer arrives for his first round match against Italy's Potito Starace at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 31 October 2011. EPA/GEORGIOS KEFALAS |

Finally the mega popular Swiss superstar Roger Federer is back on court. He kicked off his week at the Swiss Indoors in Basel with a win over Italian Potito Starace 7-6 (3) 6-4.

The World No. 4 is looking to win his fifth Basel title. Federer was the Champion in in his hometown in 2006, ’07, ’08 and 2010. In today’s match against Starace Roger faced one breakpoint in the first set but didn’t allow his opponent to take the opportunity to race ahead. The tiebreaker was very one sided and Federer took it 7-3.

Federer started the second set with a break of serve and there was no stopping him from there. He claimed the second set and the match after one hour and 20 minutes. This was the Swiss star’s first match since he played in the Davis Cup play offs against Australia in Sydney. Next up for Roger is the winner of Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil or Jarkko Nieminen of Finland.

Smiling Cypriot Marcos Baghdatis took out the much higher ranked number eight seed Viktor Troicki of Serbia in the opening round. Baghdatis is currently ranked No. 57 and his opponent today is ranked at No. 20. The Cypriot battled for three sets winning 4-6 7-6 (8) 6-2 to earn a spot in the second round. Next up for Marcos is the winner of Mikhail Youzhny and Swiss qualifier Michael Lammer.

Mikhail Kukushkin of Kazakhstan replaced Austrian Jurgen Melzer in the draw. Melzer is suffering with a lower back injury. The Kazakhstani ousted American wildcard Donald Young 6-4 6-2. Kukushkin will meet the winner of the exciting match up between Mardy Fish and James Blake.

Top seeds in the doubles Michael Llodra and Nenad Zimonjic defeated Swiss wildcards Michael Lammer and Alexander Sadecky 6-3 7-6 (10). The world no. 2 ranked team will clash with interesting combination Mardy Fish and Andy Roddick who beat Lukasz Kubot and Radek Stepanek 11-9 in the third set match tiebreak in their opening round.

10sballs.com’s patch wearing player Xavier Malisse will take on the world number one Novak Djokovic on Centre Court tomorrow. Good luck X-Man!

SCHEDULE – TUESDAY, 1 NOVEMBER, 2011

CENTER COURT start 13:30

[Q] J Blake (USA) vs [5] M Fish (USA)

Not Before 15:00

I Dodig (CRO) vs S Wawrinka (SUI)

Not Before 18:30

[1] N Djokovic (SRB) vs X Malisse (BEL)

Not Before 20:00

[4] T Berdych (CZE) vs [WC] K Nishikori (JPN)

I Dodig (CRO) / V Troicki (SRB) vs T Bellucci (BRA) / S Giraldo (COL)

COURT 2 start 13:00