<p>Roger Federer began his charge for a 100th career title by dispatching Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 on a windy centre court in the first round of the Dubai Championships.</p>.<p>Second seed Federer had to deal with a tricky opponent and strong gusts at the Aviation Club in front of nearly 5,500 fans at the Aviation Club, needing all three sets to make it past the opening round.</p>.<p>The Swiss, a seven-time Dubai champion, had to go up a gear in the third set to advance to a second-round meeting with Fernando Verdasco after German Kohlschreiber made a match of it by winning the second.</p>.<p>"I'm just happy to get through, it was tricky conditions out there," the 20-time Grand Slam champion said after his 14th straight win over Kohlschreiber, his friend and practice partner.</p>.<p>"Philipp caused me a lot of trouble and we played in swirly conditions. All of a sudden it (the wind) could stop and you could be a breakdown. That also plays in your head a little bit.</p>.<p>"I know the game's there. It was just really difficult conditions tonight."</p>.<p>Federer, who is seeded behind Kei Nishikori, swept the opening set after breaking in the first game but was pegged back.</p>.<p>Kohlschreiber, ranked 31st in the world, made a match of it in the second, breaking Federer three times on his way to taking the set 6-3.</p>.<p>The final game of the set was a nine-minute thriller, with the Swiss seed saving three set points before Kohlschreiber levelled the match with a volley winner.</p>.<p>But Federer cruised to the third set and the next round.</p>.<p>Earlier, seeds Karen Khachanov and Milos Raonic suffered surprise first-round exits in testing conditions.</p>.<p>Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili stunned Russian fourth seed Khachanov 6-4, 6-1, while world number 14 Raonic was beaten his Dubai debut 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 by German Jan-Lennard Struff.</p>.<p>Khachanov went down in just 69 minutes to 19th-ranked Georgian Basilashvili, winner of two titles last season, as winds played havoc during the day.</p>.<p>"I know Karen is not having his best time at this moment. But I also did not have great beginning of the season," said Basilashvili.</p>.<p>"I was able to manage my nerves just (for the) whole match, especially in the windy conditions. It was really tough, (and I'm) really happy for sure."</p>.<p>Raonic battled for more than two hours but was unable to get past Struff.</p>.<p>In an unusual incident, one of Raonic's rocket serves struck a ball girl straight in face.</p>.<p>After a five-minute pause for treatment, she was led off court by a first-aid worker -- the girl returned at the end of the match and shook hands with the player, who gave her a racquet.</p>.<p>The Canadian fired 15 aces in his losing effort, dropping serve twice.</p>.<p>Struff advanced into a second-round match with Marton Fucsovics after the Hungarian defeated Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 7-6 (7/5).</p>.<p>Former finalist Verdasco smashed 13 aces as he put out Italy's Thomas Fabbiano 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.</p>
<p>Roger Federer began his charge for a 100th career title by dispatching Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 on a windy centre court in the first round of the Dubai Championships.</p>.<p>Second seed Federer had to deal with a tricky opponent and strong gusts at the Aviation Club in front of nearly 5,500 fans at the Aviation Club, needing all three sets to make it past the opening round.</p>.<p>The Swiss, a seven-time Dubai champion, had to go up a gear in the third set to advance to a second-round meeting with Fernando Verdasco after German Kohlschreiber made a match of it by winning the second.</p>.<p>"I'm just happy to get through, it was tricky conditions out there," the 20-time Grand Slam champion said after his 14th straight win over Kohlschreiber, his friend and practice partner.</p>.<p>"Philipp caused me a lot of trouble and we played in swirly conditions. All of a sudden it (the wind) could stop and you could be a breakdown. That also plays in your head a little bit.</p>.<p>"I know the game's there. It was just really difficult conditions tonight."</p>.<p>Federer, who is seeded behind Kei Nishikori, swept the opening set after breaking in the first game but was pegged back.</p>.<p>Kohlschreiber, ranked 31st in the world, made a match of it in the second, breaking Federer three times on his way to taking the set 6-3.</p>.<p>The final game of the set was a nine-minute thriller, with the Swiss seed saving three set points before Kohlschreiber levelled the match with a volley winner.</p>.<p>But Federer cruised to the third set and the next round.</p>.<p>Earlier, seeds Karen Khachanov and Milos Raonic suffered surprise first-round exits in testing conditions.</p>.<p>Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili stunned Russian fourth seed Khachanov 6-4, 6-1, while world number 14 Raonic was beaten his Dubai debut 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 by German Jan-Lennard Struff.</p>.<p>Khachanov went down in just 69 minutes to 19th-ranked Georgian Basilashvili, winner of two titles last season, as winds played havoc during the day.</p>.<p>"I know Karen is not having his best time at this moment. But I also did not have great beginning of the season," said Basilashvili.</p>.<p>"I was able to manage my nerves just (for the) whole match, especially in the windy conditions. It was really tough, (and I'm) really happy for sure."</p>.<p>Raonic battled for more than two hours but was unable to get past Struff.</p>.<p>In an unusual incident, one of Raonic's rocket serves struck a ball girl straight in face.</p>.<p>After a five-minute pause for treatment, she was led off court by a first-aid worker -- the girl returned at the end of the match and shook hands with the player, who gave her a racquet.</p>.<p>The Canadian fired 15 aces in his losing effort, dropping serve twice.</p>.<p>Struff advanced into a second-round match with Marton Fucsovics after the Hungarian defeated Damir Dzumhur 6-1, 7-6 (7/5).</p>.<p>Former finalist Verdasco smashed 13 aces as he put out Italy's Thomas Fabbiano 3-6, 6-3, 6-2.</p>