By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, October 23, 2018

Basel borders France and Germany. Today, hometown hero Roger Federer danced through the danger zone in his Basel return.

The top-seeded Federer fended off a gritty Filip Krajinovic, 6-2, 4-6, 6-4, scoring his 16th straight win in his hometown tournament.

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Launching his quest for a ninth Basel title, Federer was in cruise control with a one-set, 3-1 advantage and held break point for 4-1.

But the former Basel ball boy squandered the lead and watched Krajinovic charge through the second set before regaining his range and serving out the match on his second attempt.

The 37-year-old Federer advanced to a second-round clash with Jan-Lennard Struff, who defeated Federer's US Open conqueror, John Millman, 7-6 (3), 6-2.

It was a struggle at times as Federer served 47 percent, pumped 10 aces against six double faults and fought off 10 of 14 break points in a two hour, eight-minute victory. 

The 20-time Grand Slam champion improved to 40-7 in 2018 and 67-9 at the Swiss Indoors as he aims to reach his 12th consecutive Basel final.

When Federer wasn't smoothly stepping around his backhand to scald forehands, he was shifting spins shrewdly at the start.

The Krajinovic backhand is perhaps his most stable shot.

Facing break point, the 35th-ranked Serbian engaged Federer in the kind of crosscourt backhand rally he wanted only to see the Swiss send a series of unsettling slices his way. Federer slice his way through a 24-shot rally to earn break point.

When Krajijovic scattered a shot, Federer had the first break in the fifth game.

Cruising through an 82-second hold, Federer backed up the break drawing a roar from home fans that included his parents, Robert and Lynette, and a pregnant Martina Hingis, Federer's friend and former Hopman Cup doubles partner, in the crowd.



Showing his all-court acumen, Federer ran down a passing shot with a backhand flick on a ball behind him. That rousing sequence helped him break again for 5-2.

Federer slashed an ace to seal an impressive opening set in style on the strength of two service breaks.

Before the tournament began, Federer revealed a hand injury impacted his forehand in recent months.

Showing no signs of strain, the Swiss danced around a backhand and flashed a forehand return winner down the line to open the second set with his third straight break.

Firing his forehand with ambition and changing direction shrewdly, Federer breezed through a love hold for 3-1.

At that point, the finish line was a formality, but Krajinovic kept close waiting for opportunity and when it came he pounced.

The Serbian No. 2 earned two break points in the sixth game. Federer denied both, but Krajinovic cranked a backhand down the line for a third break point.

Reading Federer's inside-out forehand, Krajinovic defended it beautifully with a full stretch backhand down the line, moved forward and angled off a soft backhand volley breaking back for 3-all.

Dodging break point, the Serbian backed up the break then immediately put the screws to the Swiss.

The Federer forehand which had been so strong throughout, sailed long as Krajinovic broke again 5-3.

A commitment to relentless aggression in spite of the score is a Federer trademark. Continuing to drive the ball near the lines, the eight-time champion bolted a backhand down the line breaking back at love in the ninth game.

The top seed saved a set point with an ace out wide but pasted a forehand into the tape. Krajinovic, who had been down a set and 1-3 and faced a break point minutes earlier, reeled off five of six games to force a decider.

Displacing the Serbian with the short, angled slice, Federer opened the court for a backhand dagger down the line for triple break point. Krajinovic did well to save two break points, but Federer converted the third breaking for a 2-1 lead in the decider.

For the second straight set, Federer had a break point to go up 4-1. And for the second straight set Krajinovic erased it holding in the fifth game.

That stand empowered the Serbian who steered a forehand pass down the line that helped him earn triple break point.

Tempting Krajinovic forward with the short slice, Federer won a 21-shot rally to save the second break point, part of a six-point surge for 4-2.

Exceptional defense helped Federer fend off a short slice. Flowing forward he flicked a drop volley winner for break point.

That masterful misdirection was a prelude to a magical backhand drop volley that sealed another break and a 5-2 lead.

Closure was complicated as Krajinovic broke right back in the eighth game.

Serving for the match again, Federer fought back from love-30 down and slid a forehand down the line for a second match point.

When Krajinovic missed the mark on a backhand, the hometown hero was through in three tight sets.