Federer says 'Body is ready' for Basel

World No. 4 Roger Federer returns to his hometown of Basel next week to play his first tournament since falling in the semi-finals of the US Open to eventual champion Novak Djokovic. The 30 year old helped Switzerland defeat Australia in the Davis Cup World Group Play-offs 2011 following his loss at Flushing Meadows. “It was nice to have some time off after the Davis Cup in Australia,” Federer said Saturday. “I felt like I had to get away a little bit and take care of a few things. Now my body is ready and I'm looking forward to this week in Basel.”

While the Swiss has secured his place at the season-ending Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, he is looking to win his first title since triumphing at the start of the season in Doha (d. Davydenko). If there is a tournament where Federer can get back on track, it’s the Swiss Indoors Basel. Federer, who, as a child served as a ball boy at the event, has posted a 38-7 record, and fittingly became the first player to win four titles last year when he avenged his 2009 final loss to Djokovic. “This year is a bit different from last year when I had already played Shanghai and Stockholm before coming to Basel,” said Federer. “Now I'm starting the indoor swing here, which makes it a bit more difficult.”

Djokovic returns to contend for his second Basel title in his first event since winning the US Open Final against Rafael Nadal. The field also features third-ranked Andy Murray, who enters on the back of an Asian title hat-trick and a 15-match win streak, and London Finals contenders Tomas Berdych, Mardy Fish, Janko Tipsarevic and Andy Roddick. “The draw has always been very strong here and maybe this is even the strongest ever,” declared Federer. “You only have good players here.”

Federer, seeded third, will open his title campaign against Potito Starace and is in the bottom half of the draw with No. 2 seed Murray, sixth-seeded Tipsarevic, No. 7 seed Roddick and compatriot Stanislas Wawrinka. Djokovic’s half of the draw includes fourth seed Berdych, No. 5 seed Fish and eighth-seeded countryman Viktor Troicki.

Date: 30.10.2011, Source: ATP