DUBAI: Roger Federer began his charge for a 100th career title by dispatching Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 on a windy centre court in the first round of the Dubai Championships. Second seed Federer had to deal with a tricky opponent and strong gusts at the Aviation Club in front of nearly 5,500 fans at the Aviation Club, needing all three sets to make it past the opening round. Kohlschreiber, ranked 31st in the world, made a match of it in the second, breaking Federer three times on his way to taking the set 6-3. The final game of the set was a nine-minute thriller, with the Swiss seed saving three set points before Kohlschreiber levelled the match with a volley winner. Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili stunned Russian fourth seed Khachanov 6-4, 6-1, while world number 14 Raonic was beaten his Dubai debut 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 by German Jan-Lennard Struff.

Source: Pakistan Today February 26, 2019 10:41 UTC