Anniversary victory: Federer chases Connors record

Grand Slam record champion Roger Federer celebrated in his 1500th match on the ATP Tour a clear victory over the German Peter Gojowczyk. The Swiss had little trouble at 6: 2, 6: 1 in the first round of his home tournament in Basel and cheered on his anniversary after 52 minutes over the 1232th victory of his professional career (268 defeats). Only US icon Jimmy Connors (1556) has played more matches than Federer.

Qualifier Gojowczyk not only conceded the third defeat in the third duel with the maestro, but also his fifth defeat in a peloton in series. His last game on the ATP Tour won the 30-year-old in early August in Washington.

The 38-year-old Federer is aiming for his tenth title in his hometown. So far, the 20-time Grand Slam champion, who celebrated 102 tournament victories in his career, had triumphed ten times only in the grass tournament in Halle / Westphalia. In his past twelve appearances in Basel Federer always reached the final.