French Open: Federer wins on return to Roland Garros

Roger Federer labelled himself an outsider after making a winning return to the French Open.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion is playing the year’s second major tournament for the first time in four years and had no trouble finding his feet on the redeveloped Court Philippe Chatrier to dispatch Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego 6-2 6-4 6-4 in just an hour and 41 minutes on Sunday.

Federer had skipped the entire claycourt season for the last two years before making his return earlier this month in Madrid.

FEATURE: Do the surface specialists still exist?

“It’s nice to be an outsider,” said Federer.

“That’s how I feel, anyhow. Just see how it goes. I know when Wimbledon comes around, sure, I’ll be probably a higher favourite. That’s OK, too. I’m happy that I’m there where I am.

“But for many years it was if I don’t win, it’s a disappointment, and you explain yourself in the press room. People don’t understand why you lost. I feel like if I lost (here) first round or in the finals or wherever it is, people would be, like, ‘OK, that could have happened.’

“I like that approach for me also once in a while. It relaxes you on the bigger points maybe, or it relaxes you subconsciously as you walk through the grounds and go to practice and go to the press room.

Roger Returns.

2009 Champion @rogerfederer is back on Court Philippe-Chatrier for the first time since 2015…#RG19 pic.twitter.com/uYMF44VYSP

— Roland-Garros (@rolandgarros) May 26, 2019

“This is not a show I’m putting on. This is the truth. I really don’t know how far I can go in this event and I am very happy with my first round. It was a really good performance, I thought, from my side for not having played here for as long as I did.”

Federer next faces German lucky loser Oscar Otte, who won his first grand slam match against Malek Jaziri.
Sixth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas could be waiting for Federer should he reach the quarterfinals, and the Greek comfortably moved through to the second round with a 6-2 6-2 7-6(4) victory over Maximilian Marterer.

Elsewhere, last year’s semifinalist, Italian 16th seed Marco Cecchinato, was a first-round casualty, losing 2-6 6-7(6) 6-4 6-2 6-4 to veteran Frenchman Nicolas Mahut.

Cecchinato, who stunned Novak Djokovic in the last eight 12 months ago, had led by two sets to love but 37-year-old wild card Mahut fought back to give the new garden court Simonne Mathieu its first classic match and take his biggest scalp on his 17th appearance in the main draw here.

Kei Nishikori and Marin Cilic both won in straight sets while struggling Grigor Dimitrov let a two-set lead slip against Janko Tipsarevic before eventually prevailing in five.

There was disappointment, meanwhile, for 25th seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, who withdrew from the tournament with a groin injury.

The exciting 18-year-old Canadian’s scratching was welcome news to Australian Jordan Thompson, who will now play Spanish lucky loser Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.