PARIS: Roger Federer Indicated his return to the French Open with a straight sets defeat of Uzbekistan qualifier Denis Istomin on Monday.
Even the 39-year-old Federer, the winner in Paris at 2009 but enjoying with the event for just the second time because 2015, won 6-2, 6-4, 6-3.
This was his eighth win in eight meetings by Istomin and gave him another round battle against former US Open winner Marin Cilic or even French wild card Arthur Rinderknech.
Federer, who jumped that the 2020 championship, was playing only his fourth game of this season and initial at a Slam since losing to Novak Djokovic from the Australian Open semi-finals this past calendar year.
