The world tennis number one Roger Federer, playing his first match for six weeks, beat qualifier Olivier Rochus in straight sets to open his defence of his Basel ATP title in Switzerland.
Federer, who has not played since the Davis Cup world group playoff against Italy in September, won 6-3 6-4 against the world number 61 from Belgium.
The Swiss was once a ball boy at his home tournament.
Federer, who suffered a stunning defeat to Juan Martin del Potro in the U.S. Open final, has opted to rest since then, pulling out of two ATP tournaments.
