Roger Federer has also won nine titles at the Swiss Indoors Basel, his hometown tournament
Tuesday 18 June 2019 19:27, UK
Roger Federer began his bid for a record-extending 10th title at the Halle Open by winning in style on Tuesday.
The Swiss top seed and 20-time Grand Slam champion needed a tie-break to take the first set from Australian John Millman before wrapping up a 7-6 (7-1) 6-3 victory.
Federer will take on wild card Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, the former world No 5, next after he won the all-French clash against Benoit Paire 6-4 7-5.
Federer leads his rivalry with Tsonga 11-6, but the Frenchman has won their past two meetings - in Monte Carlo (2016) and at the Rogers Cup in Toronto (2014).
Fourth seed Borna Coric of Croatia beat Spaniard Jaume Munar 7-6 (2) 6-3 and Roberto Bautista Agut, the seventh seed from Spain, got past American Taylor Fritz 7-6 (12-10) 6-0.
But eighth seed Guido Pella of Argentina was thumped 6-1 6-1 by Belgium's David Goffin while Richard Gasquet sank German Peter Gojowczyk 6-3 6-4.
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