Thursday 24 July 2014 17:08, UK
Top seed Mikhail Youzhny made a comfortable start to his title defence at the Swiss Open after dispatching Kenny De Schepper in straight sets.
The 19th-ranked veteran eased his way through to the quarter-finals with a 6-3 6-4 win over his French opponent.
Victory ensured Youzhny set up a repeat of last year's final as he faces seventh seed Robin Haase in the second round after the Dutchman overcame the last Swiss in the claycourt field, Henri Laaksonen, 6-4 1-6 7-5.
The Russian continued the clay momentum that he built starting earlier this month in Stuttgart, where the winner of 10 career titles reached his first semi-final of 2014.
"Always the first match is not easy," said the 32-year-old. "It doesn't matter against whom you play. Today I played good, I made two breaks and played well on my serve.
"It's been a tough season for me after injury (earlier in the year). But the season is also not over yet. there is still time for me."
Youzhny is playing the tournament for the eighth straight year and ninth time overall. He holds a 13-7 record at the venue in Gstaad which is located 1.050 metres above sea level and plays much like a hardcourt due to the altitude.
Haase had to work for more than two-and-a-quarter-hours to get past Laaksonen, the 319th-ranked 22-year-old making his third appearance at the tournament.
He found his reserves to finally secure the victory thanks in part to nine double-faults off the Swiss racquet, with Laaksonon taking defeat on a backhand error.
