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BASEL: Roger Federer made an imposing start in his hometown tournament, advancing unhindered into the second round of the Swiss Indoors here on Monday as his opponent retired with an ankle injury.

World No. 2 Federer was in total command, hitting nice aces and breaking serve thrice, against the 48th-ranked Aleksandr Dolgopolov of the Ukraine leading 6-4, 5-2 and was 15-all while serving for the match when the youngster took a tumble on the hardcourt and hurt his right ankle.

A pair of trainers came out to the side of the court at the St. Jakobshalle, but after a few minutes of grimacing, it looked like it was all over.

Federer quietly accepted the applause from the public at the event where he got his start in the game as a ballboy.

Federer has a point to prove his week after Novak Djokovic, this years' second seed, defeated him in the 2009 final to end a run of three consecutive Basel titles.

The victory ran his Basel career mark to 34-7 as he starts the bid for his 65th singles title.

The results: First round: At Valencia (Valencia Open): Teimuraz Gabashvili bt Arnaud Clement 6-4, 6-2; Stanislas Wawrinka bt Andreas Seppi 7-6(2), 7-5; Fernando Verdasco bt Michael Russell 6-4, 6-1; Gilles Simon bt Sergiy Stakhovsky 6-3, 6-3.

At Basel (Swiss Indoors): Roger Federer bt Aleksandr Dolgopolov 6-4, 5-2 ret.; Robin Haase bt Stephane Bohli 6-4, 6-3 . — Agencies