405 days had passed since his defeat in the Australian Open semifinal, with two knee surgeries in between, but

Roger Federer

returned to the competition in the best way with a hard-working win against

Dan Evans

in Doha (7-6 [8] , 3-6 and 7-5).

Nothing less than 144 minutes to knock down the resistance of the British, his training partner in recent weeks.

"You feel good to be back, to be here without looking if I win or lose. It has been a great game," said the champion of 20 'majors'.

The last point, closed with a one-handed backhand dyed with its usual elegance, was the best culmination for the duel against the Briton, who always found a way to keep his flame alive.

"With fatigue, you don't know if it's your muscles or something else. It's been a long and difficult road, it's a huge challenge to get back to my age, but it was worth it," Federer analyzed.

His 13 direct aces, with 68% of first services, showed that this hit still has no secrets for him.

The main doubts seemed to affect his physique, with precautions when traveling to avoid any relapse.

In fact, exchanges from the back of the court almost always favored Evans.

Too many mistakes

The errors never unhinged the Swiss, who even outlined a smile when he struck a simple forehand against the mesh.

That composure was essential in the 'tie-break' of the first set, when he came back from an adverse 2-4.

At 39, with many questions still on his right knee, Roger lifted two breaking balls in the seventh game of the final set.

He did not take advantage of a 'match-ball' in the tenth, saved with sufficiency by Evans, but he no longer gave an option to the second attempt.

Nikoloz Basilashvili

now awaits in the third round

, an opponent who has only been measured at the 2016 Australian Open (6-2, 6-1, 6-2).

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

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