Federer fights back to win Swiss Indoors opener

Roger Federer recovered from a slow start to beat Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3 7-5 and reach the quarter-finals of the Swiss Indoors – his hometown tournament.

The top seed was broken in the second game of the match at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel but, after going 3-1 behind, the 37-year-old hit back to win five successive games in 13 minutes and take the first set.

The second set went with serve until the 11th game, when Germany’s Struff made two unforced errors, including a double fault on break point.

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Federer comfortably held serve to complete his third victory over Struff this year and claim his 17th successive win at the tournament, a run stretching back to 2014.

After claiming the title in 2014 and 2015, Federer missed the 2016 tournament through injury but won it again last year.

“I’m happy that I improved after a rocky, slow start today, to play well after that. I think the crowd was really into it,” said Federer.

“They were excited that I came back from being a break down. I’m excited for the next round, so I’m actually quite happy how I’m playing right now.”

Federer next meets Gilles Simon of France, who knocked out Ernests Gulbis of Latvia 7-6(4) 7-6(0).

Motoring on…@rogerfederer knocks out Jan-Lennard Struff 6-3 7-5 to reach the Basel quarter-finals for the SIXTEENTH time ????#SwissIndoors2018 pic.twitter.com/WlGKyRadmH

— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 25, 2018

Second seed Alexander Zverev beat Australian qualifier Alexei Popyrin 6-4 6-4 in their second-round match to secure his 51st win of the season.

German Zverev, who is chasing a fourth ATP title this season, lost only two first-serve points on the way to victory.

Zverev was impressed by the Sydney-born 19-year-old, who recorded his first ATP main draw victory in the first round against compatriot Matthew Ebden.

“He has a very good technique, I think he’s going to be very dangerous in the coming years,” said 21-year-old Zverev.

“He has tremendous talent and tremendous potential. He’s going to be a very good player in the future. He wasn’t nervous, he enjoyed his time out there. He has tremendous talent and potential.”

Fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, who last week became the first Greek to win an ATP title when he triumphed in Stockholm, swept aside Germany’s Peter Gojowczyk 6-3 6-1 to continue his impressive season.

However, third seed Marin Cilic of Croatia was knocked out by unseeded Belgian Marius Copil 7-5 7-6(2). Daniil Medvedev, Roberto Bautista Agut and Taylor Fritz also advanced.

In Vienna, American John Isner suffered a blow to his hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals as he went down 6-4 6-4 to Frenchman Gael Monfils.

Isner’s closest rival for a place in London, Kei Nishikori, took advantage with an impressive 6-2 6-2 win over Russia’s Karen Khachanov.

Austrian top seed Dominic Thiem saw off Sam Querrey of the US 6-4 6-4, while Britain’s eighth seed Kyle Edmund went down 6-4 3-6 6-3 to Spaniard Fernando Verdasco.