By Chris Oddo | Monday, February 23, 2015

 

Roger Federer started slow but finished in Fed Express mode to down Russia's Mikhail Youzhny for a 16th consecutive time in Dubai.

Photo Source: Reuters

Playing in his first match since the Australian Open, Roger Federer put forth a crisp, workmanlike effort to take down Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny for the 16th consecutive time, 6-3, 6-1.

Twisted Tweet: Feliciano Lopez Kills Gilles Simon with Kindness in "Talent" Tweet

After a sluggish start from Federer, and a relatively solid one from Youzhny, Federer broke to move ahead 4-3 in the first set when a Youzhny backhand sailed long and proceeded to win 10 of the final 11 games to cruise to victory in 56 minutes.

"I think it was close in that first set." said Federer, according to the ATP. "I think we were both trying to find our range. I'm happy I didn't start to play too careful after it, because it is tough to play here in Dubai with the quick conditions … I was able to get the set and the break, and then that's when you can bring it home."

Federer dropped only five first serve points and didn’t face a break point. He will face wither Fernando Verdasco or Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the second round on Wednesday.

Second-seeded Federer is bidding for a record seventh title in Dubai. The 33-year-old is hoping to earn a seventh title at the third different tournament. He already owns seven titles at Wimbledon and at Halle.

The 17-time major champion opened the tournament needing just 23 aces to join Goran Ivanisevic, Andy Roddick and Ivo Karlovic in the ATP’s 9,000-ace club. He tossed in eight against Youzhny, leaving just 15 to hit the mark.

In other action on Monday in Dubai, 5th-seeded Ernests Gulbis dropped his fifth consecutive match, 7-5, 6-2 to Denis Istomin to fall to 0-5 in 2015.

Kazakhstan’s Andrey Golubev and Portugal’s Joao Sousa were also winners.

Four-time champion Novak Djokovic and 3rd-seeded Andy Murray will be in action on Tuesday in Dubai. Djokovic faces Canada’s Vasek Pospisil, while Murray opens with Gilles Muller of Luxembourg.