Federer begins Swiss Indoors title defense with win

BASEL, Switzerland (AP) - Top-seeded Roger Federer eased to victory in the first round of his hometown Swiss Indoors event on Monday, beating Germany's Benjamin Becker 7-5, 6-3.

Federer, the defending champion who is seeking his sixth Basel title in seven years, served 10 aces against the 83rd-ranked qualifier.

The top-ranked Swiss is heavily favored to claim his seventh title this year after U.S. Open champion Andy Murray pulled out with a back injury on Friday.

In other matches, Julien Benneteau of France beat Russia's Andrey Kuznetzov 4-6, 6-3, 6-3, and Polish qualifier Lukasz Kubot defeated Lukas Lacko of Slovakia 6-4, 6-4.