PARIS: Roger Federer ended his four-year break from Roland Garros with a straight sets win over Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego. He admitted he “felt on edge” as Angelique Kerber’s hopes of completing a career Grand Slam suffered a quick kill, the Manila Times reported citing a dispatch from the French news agency, Agence France-Presse.
Federer, a 20-time major winner, hadn’t played the tournament since 2015 when he reached the quarterfinals.
However, it was as if the 37-year-old had never been away as he swept to a 6-2, 6-4, 6-4 victory in one hour 41 minutes on a packed, rebuilt Court Philippe Chatrier during the match held Sunday, May 26.
It was his 60th successive first round win at a Grand Slam.
“I felt on edge at the start, my heart was beating crazily,” said Federer, who hailed the new-look stadium which has been 90% rebuilt in readiness for the installation of a retractable roof for 2020.
