Federer Thrills Home Crowd at ATP Basel

Posted on October 25, 2006

Top seed and world No. 1 Roger Federer returned Tuesday to his hometown event of Basel for the first time in three years and thrilled the locals with a 6-1, 6-2 win over qualifier Tomas Zib.

Federer has missed the last few years of the event where he served as a ballkid, but was pleased to return despite rolling his right ankle during his Madrid title on Sunday.

"I had a nice reception, I'm playing well, the results was fantastic," Federer said. "I couldn't ask for more."

The win for Federer was his 83rd of the year and extended his winning streak to 20 matches. It is the fifth time in his career that the Swiss has amassed a 20-match win streak, but the first time in 2006. Earlier this season Federer had three times run up win streaks of 15 matches or more, with the longest of those being a 19-match streak ended by Andy Murray in the second round of Cincinnati.
FOLDHERE

Last year Federer had win streaks of 20+ matches on three occasions, including his personal best 35-match streak, which was ended by David Nalbandian in the Tennis Masters Cup final.

Also Tuesday, Thai favorite Paradorn Srichaphan overcame 17 aces from German Benjamin Becker 7-6(4), 7-6(4) to reach the second round. American Mardy Fish ousted Czech Jiri Vanek 6-4, 6-3.

Murray wasn't as fortunate as the Brit pulled from the event with a throat infection.

"It's always disappointing to have to come all the way and not be able to play," said Murray. "I stayed in my bed for three days when I got here. I obviously played well last year...It would have been good to play in Basel because the conditions suit me pretty well here."