bet-at-home Open: Federer struggles past Brands

Swiss on a roll – Roger Federer

A few years ago, Roger Federer would arrive in all his regal brilliance before swatting aside his first round opponent as he prepared an onslaught for his next grand slam title. The weirdly named bet-at-home Open at Hamburg does not in any manner fit into a tournament with a place on the celebrated calendar of Swiss legend. But then, times, they are a changing.

On an uncharacteristic dalliance with clay, ahead of the season on hard courts, Federer was reminded yet again of his growing frailties by a spirited Daniel Brands. The German took the first set to send the alarm bells ringing, before Federer recovered to take the next two sets and salvage a place in the third round. Federer needed an hour and 26 minutes to score a 3-6, 6-3, 6-2 victory over the 58th ranked German.

In his first match since that annoying loss to Sergiy Stakhovsky at Wimbledon, Roger Federer was forced to find a way after losing serve in the eighth game of the first set. Brands turned the tables on Federer, immediately after saving a couple of break points on his own serve moments earlier in the previous game. Federer forced the game to deuce with Brands serving for the set, but Brands kept it together to snag the set.

Staring at what might have proven to be an embarrassing exit, Federer broke at love in the fourth game of the second set to steady his ship before taking the wheels of the match. The Swiss was emphatic in the ninth game, serving out the set to love as he drew even at one set each. Back on course, Federer would not offer a single break point to his opponent through the second and third sets. Federer served nine aces and lost only seven points on his first serve, but will have to improve significantly to contend for the title this week.

Federer raced to the finish line converting 2 of the three break points offered in the third set to advance to the next round. If you were hoping though for a cracker against Ernests Gulbis, be ready to be disappointed. The eccentric Latvian was ousted from the tournament by Jan Hajek, who only made the week as a qualifier. Gulbis lost 4-6, 6-2, 4-6 in a little more than two hours to disappoint the many eager German fans waiting for a promising third round match.

Fernando Verdasco was stretched to three by his compatriot Roberto Bautista-Agut, but prevailed 6-4, 3-6, 6-2 in an hour and 49 minutes. Juan Monaco is dealing with the French in Germany – the Argentine defeated Gael Monfils to set up a third round clash against Benoit Paire. The fifth seeded Monaco needed only 72 minutes to clinch victory 4 & 4.

In another entertaining match, 13th seeded Mikhail Youzhny lost the against Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 3-6, 7-6(3), 6-2 victory in two hours and 14 minutes. 35-year old veteran Tommy Robredo may still be hungry for the grind, but qualifier Federico Delbonis was in no mood to share his meal. The Argentine took two hours to oust the Spaniard 6-1, 4-6, 6-4 to reach the third round.