Dolgopolov's injury brought an end to the match

Home favourite and top seed Roger Federer made a winning start to his campaign at the Swiss Indoors after his opponent was forced to retire.

Federer was leading Alexandr Dolgopolov 6-4 5-2 after 51 minutes when the Ukrainian had to pull out with an ankle injury following a heavy fall.

The Swiss will face either Serbian Janko Tipsarevic or Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan in the second round

"I ask him if he needed water, a towel, if I could help him out," said Federer.

"He wanted to shake my hand while he was lying down on the floor. I was saying, 'Put on your shoe, let's hope you're OK, you can maybe walk out and then let's shake hands, don't rush yourself.'"

I don't read that much press but I always try to be very transparent with my thoughts Roger Federer

Federer lost in last year's final to Novak Djokovic, ending a run of three consecutive titles at the tournament where he was once a ball boy.

"For me, it's always one of the nicest parts of the season," he said. "In terms of importance, everybody talks about the Slams and everything but in terms of emotions, this is obviously very high up there, if not number one.

"I love this tournament, more than any other almost, and it's always wonderful for me to come back here. I try to get good at not getting injury before because it's happened twice before."

And the 16-time Grand Slam champion revealed that he has cleared the air with the Swiss tennis federation after receiving criticism in his home country for a last-minute decision to pull out of the Davis Cup tie in Kazakhstan in September.

606: DEBATE Who will win the title in Basel?

"Criticism is OK but I think most of the people actually understood my decision," said Federer, whose absence condemned Switzerland to a 5-0 defeat and relegation from the World Group.

"I don't read that much press but I always try to be very transparent with my thoughts," he said.

"Kazakhstan was unfortunately not one I could do at the very end, I tried to keep it open as long as possible, but I always think of the long term. I had a good conversation with the president of Swiss Tennis and all is under control."

In other matches in Basle, eighth seed John Isner beat Michael Llodra 4-6 7- 6-3, and Robin Haase saw off Stephane Bohli 6-4 6-3.

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