Federer overcomes partisans

---

DUBAI, Feb 23 (AFP): Roger Federer, without a Grand Slam title for the first time in eight years, had little chance to indicate the likelihood of holding one again as he comfortably negotiated his first encounter since losing the Australian Open title three weeks ago.
Federer needed only 75 minutes to win 6-3, 6-3 against Somdev Devvarman, the world number 79 who had been given a wild card entry with an eye to his popularity with the large Indian ex-patriate population here.
It brought a partisan crowd and a full house which ensured that Federer had extra to overcome to make a successful start to his bid to regain a Dubai Open title he has already won four times.
There was rarely much doubt that he would progress with something to spare, even against an ambitious and improving and so well supported an opponent.
Only when Federer was interviewed on court and asked if his absence of Grand Slam titles meant it was the end of an era, did it became clear that most of the crowd were fans of him too, for they booed the question noisily.