Basel - World number one Roger Federer, playing his first match for six weeks, beat qualifier Olivier Rochus in straight sets on Monday to open his defence of his Basel ATP title.

Federer, who has not played since the Davis Cup world group playoff against Italy in September, won 6-3, 6-4 against the world number 61 from Belgium.

One service break in each set was enough for the Swiss, who was playing in front of his home crowd at a tournament where he was once a ball boy.

Federer, who suffered a stunning defeat to Juan Martin del Potro in the US Open final, has opted to rest since then, pulling out of two ATP tournaments. - Reuters