By Richard Pagliaro | Thursday, October 26, 2017
Seven-time champion Roger Federer did not face a break point outclassing Benoit Paire, 6-1, 6-3, in Basel.
Photo credit: Shanghai Rolex Masters Facebook
Zipping an inside-out forehand, Roger Federer had a sprinting Benoit Paire on a string when the inscrutable Frenchman finally lost his grip.
Paire flipped his racquet from behind his back in a futile effort to touch another ball beyond his reach.
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Disarming his opponent with his all-court attack, Federer did not face a break point outclassing Paire, 6-1, 6-3, in a 57-minute Basel workout.
In a clash of artistry vs. apathy, the seven-time Basel champion took charge from the start. Federer won 14 of 21 points played on Paire’s second serve, converting four of nine break-point chances.
Challenging the bearded Frenchman to defend his weaker wing on the run, Federer ravaged Paire’s herky-jerky forehand causing disjointed misses.
The 36-year-old Swiss raised his 2017 recordt to 46-4, including 34-3 on hard courts.
Stress combined with collatarel damage from losing all nine of the prior sets the pair played, caused cracks in Paire’s normally rock-solid backhand during the opening set.
Continuing his quest for a 95th career title, Federer will face a left-hander next, either seventh-seeded Adrian Mannarino or Montreal semifinalist Denis Shapovalov.
Twenty years after he first qualified for Basel, Federer worked through a demanding deuce hold in the opening game today.
Paire’s problems were clear from the start. He can’t hang with Federer in forehand exchanges and his proclivity for drifting several feet behind the baseline—and indulging in wacky shot selection—gave the attacking Federer plenty of enticing angles explore. A double fault put Paire in a triple break point hole.
Attacking behind a forehand, Federer coaxed the break taking a 2-0 lead with a firm “come on!”
Stringing high-percentage shots together, Paire stamped a love hold sparking on a six-point run.
Exploiting the Frenchman’s deep court positioning, Federer blocked a forehand volley holding from love-30 down for 4-1.
The man with the upturned collar is prone to lowbrow shot selection and Paire didn't look interested in trying to extend baseline exchanges. Often, Federer gave him little time to do much.
Anticipating the slice serve, Federer flicked a forehand return pass that buzzed by Paire to seal the break for 5-1. That shot Frenchman nodding his head in admiration.
Zapping an ace that touched the center stripe, Federer converted his third set point streaming to a one-set lead after 23 minutes.
Withstanding pressure at the start of the second set, Paire saved a pair of break points, including a reflex two-handed backhand volley, staggered but standing with a 2-1 advantage.
In the seventh game, Paire went off the rails completely.
Muffing a drop volley, Paire badly bungled a high forehand volley then sailed a second serve capping a horrid self-induced love break. Federer navigated a love hold widening the gap to 5-3.
The bearded Frenchman fought off a match point with an ace down the middle.
Slashing a slice overhead for a second match point, Federer raced down a drop shot firing one final forehand winner ending on the identical scoreline as his opening-round victory over American wild card Frances Tiafoe.