Tennis ace Federer says he isn't thinking about the Aus Open finals loss after beating India's Somdev Devvarman 6-3, 6-3 in the Dubai Open
Tennis ace Federer says he isn't thinking about the Aus Open finals loss after beating India's Somdev Devvarman 6-3, 6-3 in the Dubai Openu00a0
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.
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| Switzerland's Roger Federer serves to India's Somdev Devvarman during their ATP Dubai Open tennis match in the Gulf emirate yesterday. Federer won 6-3, 6-3. PIC/AFP |
Federer needed only 75 minutes to win 6-3, 6-3 against Somdev Devvarman, the World No 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 become clear that most of the crowd were fans of him too, for they booed the question noisily.
When Federer replied: "The answer is ufffd I am playing here," it was greeted with great cheers.
"It doesn't stress me out," he added. I won the tour finals at the end of last year. Novak (Djokovic) was too good at the Australian Open and I can only respect that, and work on my game and hope that's enough.
"In any case this isn't about the Grand Slams, my focus is on Dubai."
Federer made many unforced errors for him, more than 30, but also produced some inspired moments and served well when it mattered. He broke for 4-2 when Devvarman served a double fault which gave him a holdon the first set, and broke again in the fifth and ninth games of the second set.
Devvarman, a nimble counter-hitter, crafted himself two break points for 3-1 in the second set, but Federer saved the first with a heavy first delivery and the second with a trademark inside-out forehand drive.
He next plays Marcel Granollers of Spain who comfortably beat Dmitry Tursunov.
