Federer starts 100th title bid with Kohlschreiber win

Khachanov, Raonic suffer early exits

FE Team | Published: February 27, 2019 00:38:32

Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrating after winning the singles first round match against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber at the ATP Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships 2019 at Dubai in the United Arab Emirates on Monday — Internet

DUBAI, Feb 26 (AFP): Roger Federer began his charge for a 100th career title by dispatching Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 on a windy centre court in the first round of the Dubai Championships.
Second seed Federer had to deal with a tricky opponent and strong gusts at the Aviation Club in front of nearly 5,500 fans at the Aviation Club, needing all three sets to make it past the opening round.
The Swiss, a seven-time Dubai champion, had to go up a gear in the third set to advance to a second round meeting with Fernando Verdasco after German Kohlschreiber made a match of it by winning the second.
Federer, who is seeded behind Kei Nishikori, swept the opening set after breaking in the first game but was pegged back.
Earlier, seeds Karen Khachanov and Milos Raonic suffered surprise first-round exits in testing conditions.
Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili stunned Russian fourth seed Khachanov 6-4, 6-1, while world number 14 Raonic was beaten his Dubai debut 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 by German Jan-Lennard Struff.
Khachanov went down in just 69 minutes to 19th-ranked Georgian Basilashvili, winner of two titles last season, as winds played havoc during the day.