Federer sets up Tsonga clash in Halle

HALLE: Roger Federer began his preparations for next month’s Wimbledon Championships with a 7-6 (7/1), 6-3 victory over unseeded Australian John Millman in the opening round of the Halle Open on Tuesday.

Competing in his first match since being beaten by eventual champion Rafael Nadal in the French Open semi-finals, the Swiss top seed proved too strong for Millman in the grasscourt tournament.

World No.57 Millman, who had beaten Federer in four sets in their previous encounter at last year’s US Open, put up a strong fight in the opening set but was no match for his opponent at the contest wore on.

Up next for the 20-time Grand Slam champion is Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, who has won the last two matches of their 17 career meetings.

Earlier, world No.14 Borna Coric began his title defence with a 7-6 (7/2), 6-3 victory over Spain’s Jaume Munar to move into the second round where he will face Joao Sousa.

David Goffin fired nine aces and won 86 percent of points on his first serve in a comfortable 6-1 6-1 win over Argentine Guido Pella in 50 minutes. Up next for the Belgian is Radu Albot.

Wildcard Tsonga defeated fellow Frenchman Benoit Paire 6-4, 7-5 but not before the duo delighted the crowd with an impromptu game of foot tennis in the second set after Paire’s racquet slipped from his hand following a serve.

Seventh seed Roberto Bautista Agut overcame Taylor Fritz 7-6 (12/10), 6-0 while local hope Jan-Lennard Struff got past Laslo Djere 6-4 6-4.