Hometowner Federer cruises in Swiss opener

BASEL, Switzerland, Oct. 24 (UPI) -- World No. 1 tennis player and Basel native Roger Federer was an opening-round winner Tuesday at the Swiss Indoors Basel.

In his first appearance here in three years, the top-seeded Federer defeated Czech qualifier Tomas Zib 6-1, 6-2.

Federer has now won his last 19 matches, including a U.S. Open title and championships in Tokyo and Madrid. He beat Fernando Gonzalez in this past Sunday's finale at the Madrid Masters.

Federer was the back-to-back Basel runner-up in 2000 and 2001.

The reigning U.S. Open, Wimbledon and Australian Open champion Federer will meet Spaniard Guillermo Garcia-Lopez in the second round. Garcia-Lopez defeated German qualifier Julian Reister 7-6 (7-4), 6-2.

Swiss wild card George Bastl beat German qualifier Lars Burgsmuller 6-1, 6-4. Bastl upset Pete Sampras at Wimbledon in 2002.