Roger Federer won his 11th successive match on his home court but had to fight hard to keep a hat-trick of victories at Basel on course at the Swiss Indoors on Tuesday.
The top-seeded local who has won the last two editions was cheered by a sellout crowd at the St Jakobshalle as he labored to defeat American Bobby Reynolds 6-3, 6-7 (6), 6-3.
It was his 25th Basel match victory as he played for the ninth time in the city of his birth.
Reynolds made life tough for the top seed, saving a match point in the second-set tiebreaker and then levelling at one set each.
It took a determined Federer to put things right in the third set as he advanced precariously into the second round on his fourth match point in a shade under two hours.
"He served very well and was hitting all corners," said the Swiss. "It was tough to read his serve. I didn't really have so much time to get used to conditions. I was only able to hit here for two hours in practise."
Federer admitted that he let a chance get away as he failed to break on three opportunities in the ninth game of the second set at 4-all.
That mis-step allowed Reynolds to temporarily breath new life into his journeyman's game before eventually going down.
Davis Cup teammates David Nalbandian and Juan Del Potro notched an Argentine double as attention shifted temporarily to Champions League soccer.
Local side FC Basel will face off on Wednesday against Barcelona featuring Argentine international Lionel Messi in a group match.
Both Nalbandian and top-seeded hometowner Roger Federer are hoping to be in the stands at the stadium just across the road from the St Jakobshalle.
"I know Messi personally, so I'm sure he would get me a ticket if I asked," second seed Nalbandian said after polishing off Albert Montanes 6-4, 6-2. Federer is assured of a VIP seat for the match.
(Agencies via China Daily October 23, 2008)