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Australia's John Millman was unable to tee up a chance for a second-round clash with Roger Federer at the Swiss Indoors after losing to Jan-Lennard Struff.
Australia's John Millman missed out on a potential showdown with Roger Federer after suffering a straight-sets defeat to Jan-Lennard Struff at the Swiss Indoors tournament.
Millman shocked Federer by dumping the world No.3 out of the US Open fourth round early last month.
But any hope the world No.33 had of securing another opportunity to upset the winner of 20 grand slam singles titles in his home tournament in Basel ended as Millman, 29, lost 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 to Germany's Struff on Tuesday.
The 52nd-ranked Struff fired down 17 aces and converted four break points to tighten his grip as the match progressed.
He now faces an ominous clash with Federer, who has not lost at the tournament since he was defeated by Juan Martin del Potro in 2013.
"Playing Federer here is tough, it won't be easy for sure," Struff said.
Federer, who is struggling with a hand injury, was severely tested by Filip Krajinovic before winning 6-2 4-6 6-4 to move into the second round as he continues his quest for a ninth title, having made the final in his past 11 appearances at an event where he was once a ball boy.
The top seed seemed in control after winning seven straight games to take the first set and lead by a break in the second.
The 35th-ranked Serb then broke Federer's serve three times, including back-to-back to clinch the set and level the match.
But Federer got the key break early in the deciding set and reeled off five straight points when facing three break chances in the sixth game.
He then clinched the win when Krajinovic sent a backhand long.
In other matches seventh seed Daniil Medvedev, a semi-finalist last week in Moscow, saw off German Maximilian Marterer 6-3, 7-5.
Russian Medvedev stands at a career-high ranking of 20th, with three titles this season and will next face Andreas Seppi after the Italian defeated Japan's Taro Daniel 6-0, 6-4.
In an all-Australian match-up, Sydney-born qualifier Alexei Popyrin, 19, progressed to the second round when with a superb win over world ranked 39 Matt Ebden 7-6 (7-4) 6-4.
