(Reuters) – Roger Federer’s late bid to secure his customary place in the season-ending ATP World Tour finals began with a routine opening round win over Adrian Mannarino in his home town tournament in Basel yesterday.
The 32-year-old Swiss former world number one, in danger of missing out on the eight-man season finale, earned a 6-4 6-2 victory to the delight of the his home fans.
Federer’s lean year has meant he has slipped to eighth in the ATP Race standings, below compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka and with Frenchmen Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga both breathing down his neck.
Gasquet, who won the title in Moscow on Sunday is 25 points Federer and Tsonga 90 adrift. Gasquet is also in action in Basel and, with 500 points on offer for the champion, he will be waiting to pounce should Federer suffer an early exit.
