World number one Roger Federer made a triumpant return from a six-week layoff, starting the defence of his ATP Masters Cup crown here Monday by beating French Open champion Gaston Gaudio 6-1, 7-6 (7/4). Playing his first match since suffering a torn left thigh muscle during an October 25 practice session, the 23-year-old Swiss star left no doubt about his fitness, firing eight aces to dispatch his Argentine foe in 91 minutes.
It was Federer's 19th victory in a row over a top-10 rival, a streak that began here last year with an unbeaten run to the title at the season-ending showdown of the season's eight top players.
Under gloomy gray skies, Federer played his first match since winning his 10th crown of the year last month in Bangkok, his only tournament since capturing the US Open crown after withdrawing from events in Basel and Paris.
Federer won this year's US and Australian Opens as well as his second consecutive Wimbledon title, clinching the year-end top ranking last September after taking his third Grand Slam crown of the year at Flushing Meadows.
Rain halted the match after only six minutes and sent the players off the court for two hours and 20 minutes. When they resumed, Federer took advantage on his sixth break-point chance with a forehand winner to seize a 3-1 lead.
Federer broke Gaudio again to finish the set after 31 minutes, losing only one point on his serve.
Gaudio saved eight break points in the second set, including three in the ninth game and four more in the 11th. But Federer seized victory on his first match-point chance with a forehand winner in the tie-breaker.
Gaudio, 25, had a masterful season on clay, winning a tour-best 31 times. But he fell to 5-8 for the year on the hardcourt surface used here, having yet to manage consecutive hardcourt victories this season.
Australian Lleyton Hewitt and Spain's Carlos Moya were to meet later in another Red Group match at the 3.7 million-dollar event.
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