Federer battles to victory on Stuttgart return
Roger Federer was made to battle after a losing first set as the Swiss star made his longawaited return to tennis on Wednesday (Thursday in Manila) with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-2 defeat of Mischa Zverev at the Stuttgart Cup.
the rust against his German opponent
second and third sets to earn victory in 93 minutes.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner, who exited in his opening match at the grass court season curtain-raiser a year ago to friend Tommy Haas, can displace Rafael Nadal from the
The 36- year- old finished to the cheers of a sold-out center court on a chilly day.
“I’m happy to have won a match after losing my last two (Indian Wells, Miami in March),” Federer said.
“This is a new start. I’m glad to have been able to win again, overcoming set down. Mischa’s level dropped in the last two sets and that gave me a chance to win.”
older brother of world number three
- ered to post his sixth win in as many meetings in the series.
The Swiss was playing his first match in nearly three months after
- son for a second year in succession in order to fully concentrate on his grass preparation.
He is aiming to claim a record ninth Wimbledon title next month at the All England Club.
he beat a year ago in the Wimbledon a passing winner. Mischa, there is no rhythm, don’t even
“It’s more about concentration, being patient, staying positive and having good energy for the whole time —I had that.
“Now it’s good to have a day off to fund some rhythm for the next match.”
The top seed improved to 18-2 on the season as he began the pursuit of his 98th career trophy. -
- pearance, beating Canadian sixth seed Denis Shapovalov 7-6 (8/6), 2-6, 6-3
Frenchman Benoit Paire hammered 14 aces in his defeat of American Taylor Fritz 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 6-2. Paire will next face Czech third seed Tomas Berdych.
Canada’s seventh seed Milos Raon- ago, by seeing off Bosnian Mirza Basic 7-6 (10/8), 6-2.