BASEL, Switzerland (AP) — Roger Federer made a winning return from a six-week break, beating Potito Starace of Italy 7-6 (3), 6-4 in the first round of his hometown Swiss Indoors event Monday.
The fourth-ranked Federer took time to find the rhythm in his ground strokes, and saved a break point at 5-all before winning the first-set tiebreaker comfortably.
The 30-year-old Swiss then broke the 54th-ranked Starace’s serve in the opening game of the second.
Federer last played on Sept. 18 in a Davis Cup match on grass in Australia where he beat Bernard Tomic in four sets.
After opting to rest and recharge, Federer was playing his first match ranked outside the top three since winning the 2003 Wimbledon title as the No. 5.
