Federer wins on return from break

BASLE — Roger Federer gave his hometown tennis fans exactly what they were seeking as the four-time champion moved into the second round of the ATP Swiss Indoors in Basle, Switzerland, on Monday with a 7-6 (7/3), 6-4 defeat of Potito Starace.

Federer, who is seeded three here behind 2009 winner Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray, showed some rustiness against the world number 54 before he claimed his sixth win in six meetings with the Italian.

The Swiss, who was recording his 50th win of the season at a tournament where he was once a teenage ballboy, last competed as he led his nation back to the David Cup World Group with a victory against Australia in Sydney the weekend after the US Open.

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