By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, February 25, 2019
Seven-time champion Roger Federer conquered Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, advancing to a Dubai second-round clash vs. Fernando Verdasco.
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve
On a gusty evening, Roger Federer navigated second-set turbulence flying through the final set to land a winning return in Dubai.
Federer tamed breezy conditions and a tricky Philipp Kohlschreiber, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, to successfully launch his aim for a record-extending eighth Dubai championship.
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In his first match since failing to convert on 12 break points in bowing to Stefanos Tsitsipas in the Australian Open fourth round, Federer moved fluidly, served sharply and showed some signs of rust combating an opponent adept at shifting spins and unruly winds that made playing close to the lines a dangerous proposition.
"The mindset was to just somehow get through or somehow try not to lose," Federer said. "I know you always play to win, but sometimes in the wind, in a first round against Kohlschreiber, who can play very well in spells, especially in conditions like this, a lot of top-spin and spin. It’s just a match against the conditions really more than the opponent.
"I will see how it goes for me on Wednesday. I hope it’s not going to be as windy as tonight so we see good tennis or better tennis."
The 20-time Grand Slam champion served 72 percent, pumped seven aces and won 13 of 17 trips to net. Federer's 29 winners nearly doubled Kohlschreiber's 16 as he defeated the German for the 14th time in as many meetings.
Continuing his quest to claim his 100th career title, Federer improved to 49-6 in Dubai advancing to a second-round match with Fernando Verdasco.
The Spanish left-hander battled by Italian qualifier Thomas Fabbiano, 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.
Winning the coin toss and choosing to receive, Federer wasted little time announcing his arrival before a packed crowd in Dubai, which is his offseason training base.
On a breezy evening that pitted two brilliant one-handed backhands, Federer made his mark two points into the match.
Lasering a 92 mph forehand down the line, Federer followed lashing a backhand pass down the line for a break point.
A jittery Kohlschreiber overcooked a diagonal forehand giving Federer the break in the opening game.
The second-seeded Swiss backed up the break at love. Federer feels slower court conditions this year provide time for point construction.
“In the past, Dubai always used to be a tournament where you played, you got out of it at the end, you’re like, ‘I’m not sure I’m playing actually that good’ because things are fast, points get decided on one, two shots here, there," Federer said. "It’s reaction. I think you can really grind a player down now. It’s been actually quite a big change. I’m excited to be here. I do believe this surface also lends itself very well for me to play well here.”
There were some signs of rust, too.
Trying to adjust his ball toss amid a whipping wind, Federer dumped two double faults in a row, badly missing a second serve wide on the second, to face break point in the fourth game. Federer saved it with a churning kick serve wide, eventually holding for 3-1 after 12 minutes of play.
Serving for the first set, Federer fell into a 15-30 hole, but curled a kicking serve wide then stuck a stunning one-handed backhand pass behind the German for set point. Kohlschreiber saved it with a bold backhand volley.
Undaunted, Federer slashed successive ace—his third and fourth of the match—to snatch the 30-minute opener.
Kohlschreiber capped the opening game of the second set with a slick leaping serve-and-volley.
The empowered German gained the first break point of the second set with a looping forehand and a shot.
Stretching the 20-time Grand Slam champion on his forehand wing, Kohlschreiber drew an errant forehand forging the break for 2-0.
Exploiting a tame drop shot from the German, Federer earned break point and banged a series of deep backhands to the center of the court rattling out a wide forehand to break back in the fifth game.
Cranking a deep return that handcuffed the seven-time champion, Kohlschreiber broke right back extending his lead to 4-2.
Engaged fans erupted into the wave as Federer stepped up to stay in the second set at 2-5.
Sixty-four minutes into the match, Kohlschreiber stung a body serve for set point, but Federer charged net and swatted a high forehand volley to save it.
The jittery German struggled to find his first serve and spit up a second double fault to face break point. Kohlschreiber attacked behind a forehand causing a shanked response to save break point only to dump another double fault to face a second break point.
Showing no trace of nerve, Kohlschreiber went all in whipping his first ace of the night on a second serve to deny it. Federer fired a forehand winner to erase set point then caught a fortuitous net-cord winner for a third break point. That sequence promoted the typically calm Kohlschreiber to tomahawk his Wilson stick leaving a contorted mess and incurring a code violation for racquet abuse.
On his fourth set point, Kohlschreiber cranked a forehand winner closing a 10-minute game to level the match after one hour, 11-minutes of play.
An inability to create consistent depth with his backhand cost Federer a shot at the break, but he hit the backhand with more vigor earning break point in the second game of the decider.
Smacking a crosscourt forehand, Federer scored the first break of the decider then breezed through a love hold backing up the break with an ace for 3-0.
Stamping his second straight shutout hold—and sixth of the night—Federer stretched his lead to 4-1.
Dialing in his strokes, Federer won a 19-shot baseline rally for a second break point then bulleted a backhand right back at the net-rushing German forcing a wild volley to break again for 5-1.
Slashing his seventh ace down the middle, Federer closed in 95 minutes.
“I think the depth in the men’s game is really, really big,” said Federer. “I think I have to respect basically first-round opponents forever. Just because you’re ranked world No. 1 does not give you a free pass into the second round. Maybe it was like this back in the ’50s, I have no idea. Nowadays it’s definitely not like that.
“Everybody can play tennis. We can feel in practice every single day; the moment you’re not 100 percent—margins are so slim—you could easily lose. I think that’s why it always keeps us very humble and on the ground. That’s why this first round is a true test. I think when you come through it, it also fuels you with a lot of confidence.”
Earlier, Nikoloz Basilashvili crushed Karen Khachanov, 6-4, 6-1.
Despite serving 46 percent, Basilashvili won 23 of 27 first-serve points and denied by break points he faced in a 69-minute conquest.
Basilashvili will play either defending champion Roberto Bautista Agut or qualifier Ramkumar Ramanathan in the second round.