Federer gives pizza party for Basel ball kids

After winning his sixth Basel trophy on Sunday in a dominant performance against David Goffin, Roger Federer celebrated as he does every time he has reached Swiss Indoors final - by throwing a pizza party for the tournament ball kids.

The 33 year old has a very special relationship with the ball kids at this event. Federer himself was a ball boy in Basel, which this year celebrated its 25th year as being part of the ATP World Tour.

"That's exactly where I'm going right now," Federer said as he wrapped up his press conference. "In a minute you'll see me with the ball boys and ball girls. That's how it all started with me. I would ride my bike from home - about five to 10 minutes away - and I was a ballboy here all day long and would go back home and do it again the next day. So I always have a tradition where everyone has a pizza with me after the final. It's been 11 times now. I do it win or lose, regardless."

Federer was playing in his 11th final at this ATP World Tour 500 event, winning his sixth title in eight years and the first since 2011. He finished runner-up to Juan Martin del Potro in 2012 and 2013.

Date: 26th October 2014, Source: ATP

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Federer captures 6th Basel crown, continues No.1 quest

Roger Federer further closed the gap with Novak Djokovic in the battle for year-end No. 1, claiming his sixth Swiss Indoors Basel title 6-2, 6-2 over David Goffin on Sunday.

The hometown hero denied the young gun his third title of the year and has clawed to within striking distance of Djokovic for the top spot in the ATP Race To London. Federer finds himself less than 500 points behind the Serb with a combined 2,500 up for grabs between next week's BNP Paribas Masters and the season finale ATP World Tour Finals.

"It would be very special to reclaim No. 1," said Federer. "World No. 1 is what it's all about in our game. With the year I have had and the amount of finals I have played, the level of tennis I have played, I am pleased to see that I have a shot. But having a shot and being there is two separate things. I am sure that Novak is going to come in very motivated, just after having a baby. I am very happy for him. There are clearly interesting weeks ahead."

The Swiss, who was contesting his 11th Basel final, won his sixth title in eight years and first since 2011. He captured his 82nd tour-level trophy overall, extending his win streak to 12 straight after emerging victorious at the Shanghai Rolex Masters earlier this month.

In total, Federer has won six titles or more at six tournaments - Dubai (6), Halle (7), Wimbledon (7), Cincinnati (6), Basel (6), and ATP World Tour Finals (6).

The top seed snatched the opening break of the match in the first game and cruised from there, securing an early break for 3-2 in the second set and closing out the victory after just 51 minutes. He fired five aces and 19 winners, winning an impressive 93 per cent of second serve points.

"It is always such a treat to be in the final here, receiving a standing ovation from the crowd," said Federer. "It's why I play tennis, why I play the tournament here in Basel. It will remain very special for me personally.

''I'm very pleased how well I'm playing,'' Federer said. ''It was a great final, I think I played really well and I'm full of confidence now.

''I was expecting it to be tough and him taking charge at times but I think I was really able to control the match with my serve and then with my variation on the return. I think I did really well, I was fresh today, it was again a fifth day of tennis for me in a row and I'm happy I'm able to keep it up time and time again, week after week.

"It is not easy to be down and react in a best-of-three-set match. You can only try your best and David did that. He had a great week and I think he plays wonderful tennis. I wish him all the best for next year and I hope we will see more of him. I think he is a fan favourite with his shot making and his attitude."

Federer takes home $352,355 and 500 ATP Rankings points, improving to an ATP World Tour-leading 66-10 record in 2014 and 56-9 in Basel. Runner-up Goffin earns $158,860 and 300 points for his efforts.

"It was a tough match, of course," admitted Goffin. "Here in his hometown, he was in great shape and played too good for me today. At the beginning of the match I was a little bit nervous, especially a final against Roger. It's not easy to return his serve. That’s why it was a nightmare for me today. I made a lot of mistakes and I didn’t serve well, but it has been a good week for me. I will try to do better next time."

Goffin, who had won 43 of 45 matches (including on the ATP Challenger Tour) since Wimbledon, fell to 24-14 on the ATP World Tour this year. The Belgian was seeking his third title of the year following triumphs on the clay of Kitzbühel and indoor hard courts of Metz. He will conclude his 2014 campaign at the BNP Paribas Masters, opening against Lukas Rosol.

Date: 26th October 2014, Source: ATP and AP

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Federer defeats Karlovic to reach 11th Basel final

Roger Federer fought off an ace assault from a dogged Ivo Karlovic to reach his 11th Swiss Indoors Basel final, prevailing 7-6(8), 3-6, 6-3 on Saturday.

The hometown hero extended his win streak to 11 straight as he continued his push to conclude the season as year-end World No. 1. If he wins the title, Federer will be less than 500 points behind Novak Djokovic in the ATP Race To London, with 1,000 points awaiting the champion of next week's BNP Paribas Masters. The five-time Basel champion will contest his 123rd title match on the ATP World Tour against Belgian rising star David Goffin.

Federer overcame 33 aces from the big-serving Croat to claim victory after one hour and 42 minutes, winning 80 per cent of points on his own serve. The 33 year old staved off a pair of set points in a grueling 18-point first set tie-break and would eventually secure the opener after rifling a backhand passing shot, one of his 40 winners on the day.

In the second set, Karlovic fired four straight aces for a 4-3 lead and immediately proceeded to break Federer in the next game. He had previously failed to convert on a break point (0/9) in their last seven meetings, dating back to 2007. The Zagreb native would force a decider, but Federer held his nerve, breaking in the fourth game of the third set and holding on for the victory.

"I'm relieved, always in a match like this against someone who can serve as big as Ivo," Federer said. "It was a good feeling get out of it as the winner. I thought it was impressive how big he served. I didn't expect the break in the third set, so I was happy to get that and bring it home.

"I never thought I would be this successful at this tournament. I'm hoping to enjoy the final and that the crowd will be as good as it was today. It would mean the world to me to win in Basel. It's going to be an exciting but a tough match."

Karlovic was bidding to reach his 13th final on the ATP World Tour and fifth of the year. He currently sits 10 aces shy of 9,000 for his career and will look to join countryman Goran Ivanisevic and Andy Roddick as the only men to achieve the feat, at the BNP Paribas Masters next week.

The lone previous meeting between Federer and Goffin came in the 2012 Roland Garros fourth round. The Swiss stormed back from a set down to prevail in four tight sets.

Date: 25th October 2014, Source: ATP

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Federer beats Dimitrov, faces Karlovic in Basel SFs

One year after they faced off for the first time, Roger Federer once again got the better of Grigor Dimitrov in the Swiss Indoors Basel quarter-finals. The Swiss defeated the Bulgarian 7-6(4), 6-2 to keep alive his hopes for a sixth hometown title.

The World No. 2 edged the first set in a tie-break after 54 minutes, and converted on his fifth break point opportunity of the match to go up 2-0 in the second. He broke Dimitrov for a second time and claimed victory after one hour and 29 minutes. Federer saved all four break points he faced, hit 29 winners to Dimitrov's 25, and won 20 of 31 points at the net.

“I thought the level was high throughout for both of us,” said Federer. “I think Grigor served very well in the first, he didn’t give me very many opportunities. It was a tough end to the set, with me saving set points and then the tie-break stayed close at the end, but I’m very pleased to come through there. I think overall it was a very good performance and I played my best tennis of the week so far.”

Federer has a chance of finishing as the year-end World No. 1, and can close the gap between him and Novak Djokovic in the ATP Race To London to less than 500 points by winning the Basel title this week. Dimitrov, currently No. 11 in the Race standings, was looking to boost his qualifying bid for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals.

The 33-year-old Federer will take an 11-1 ATP Head2Head record into his next match against 35-year-old Ivo Karlovic, including a victory in the 2007 Basel semi-finals. The 6’11” Croat advanced with a 6-4, 6-4 win over German Benjamin Becker.

The eighth seed struck 19 aces and won 86 per cent of his first-serve points to advance in 76 minutes. “It’s great to be here again in the semi-finals,” said Karlovic. “I was holding my serve well against Benjamin. All in all it was a great match.”

Date: 24th October 2014, Source: ATP

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Federer shrugs off slow start to reach Basel quarters

Roger Federer shrugged off dropping the first set against journeyman Denis Istomin on Thursday before hitting back to win 3-6, 6-3, 6-4 and reach the Swiss Indoors quarter-finals.

It was the top seed and five-time champion's 53rd career win at his hometown event, the place where he got his start in the sport as a ballboy two decades ago.

He now stands at a perfect 6-0 over world number 55 Istomin, who gave Federer plenty of trouble during their one-hour, 48-minute meeting.

Federer's win kept up the pressure on Novak Djokovic as the Swiss takes aim at a possible return to the year-end world number one ranking currently held by the Serb.

But the 33-year-old admitted his start had been slow.

"I was lacking rhythm in first set, it was close but he played well when he had to. He served well on the break point he faced.

"It was tough to lose that set but it was important to bounce back in the second set and get my teeth into the match.

"In the third I got the upper hand and was moving him around the baseline. I was more consistent, it just took awhile to make the breakthrough.

"In the end it was a tough and good match for me. The key was to clears up my game, get the win and give myself an opportunity for tomorrow."

Federer, who won his first-round match in 47 minutes, lost the opening set on a break as Istomin landed a return at his feet for a crucial 4-2 lead.

The second set momentum finally turned for Federer, who fired three love games and lost just two points on serve as he levelled with a forehand winner to the corner on set point.

In the third, the Swiss was frustrated by stubborn Istomin defence, with Federer missing on four break points in the opening game before finally breaking for 2-1 on the eighth break point of the set, a passing winner.

Federer completed his comeback with a sixth ace on match point to advance into a quarter-final against fifth seed Grigor Dimitrov, who beat Canadian Vasek Pospisil, a 2013 semi-finalist, 6-2, 6-2.

Federer claimed the title in 2006 (d. Gonzalez), '07 (d. Nieminen), '08 (d. Nalbandian), '10 (d. Djokovic) and '11 (d. Nishikori). He finished runner-up to Juan Martin del Potro in the past two years.

Date: 23rd October 2014, Source: AFP

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Federer races to 47-minute win at Basel

Roger Federer continued his push for the year-end ATP World Tour No. 1 spot on Wednesday when he began his bid for a sixth title at the Swiss Indoors Basel.

Top seed Federer improved to 5-0 lifetime against Gilles Muller in a 6-2, 6-1 victory over just 47 minutes on Wednesday evening.

Federer hit 12 winners, including five aces in the 24-minute opener and did not lose any of his service points in the second set.

"I am very happy with how the first round went here," said Federer. "It was totally different to Shanghai, when I saved five match points [versus Leonardo Mayer]. This time around, I was really in control from the get-go. I hope I can keep this level up."

The Swiss superstar is now 52-9 lifetime at the ATP World Tour 500 tournament, where he has reached 10 finals (5-5 record). He adds 45 points to his ATP Race To London tally and now stands 945 points behind No. 1-ranked Novak Djokovic, who welcomed the arrival of his first child, Stefan, yesterday.

Federer will next meet Denis Istomin in the second round on Thursday.

"He really imposes his game, with a big forehand, backhand and serve," said Federer of Istomin. "He can be dangerous on return too. I have to be sharp on my own service games, which was a problem here against him last year."

Date: 22nd October 2014, Source: ATP

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Federer flirts with perfection in late-season surge

Life couldn't be better - or more surprising - for Roger Federer as the 33-year-old takes aim at multiple major goals starting with a sixth title at his home Swiss Indoors.

The top seed admitted on Tuesday that his current positive situation even has him surprised, with Switzerland playing France in the Davis Cup final next month.

Federer also has a decent shot at regaining the world number one ranking, given the right circumstances.

Federer has been training on clay for the Davis Cup showdown but is now back to total concentration on the slow indoor hardcourt at the St Jakobshalle, where he has reached the last eight finals at the stadium where he got his start in the game as a ballboy.

"It's a nice feeling being back in an arena that I know so well and have had so much success," said the 17-time Grand Slam winner who opens on Wednesday in the first round against Luxembourg's Gilles Muller.

"It feels great right now, I'm happy I'm playing so well since the birth of Leo and Lenny," said the recent Shanghai champion.

"I'm happy Switzerland made the Davis Cup finals. We've put ourselves in an exciting position. An away tie in France is cool.

"And the fact that I've gotten so close to the number one ranking is a bit of a surprise for me. I've not won a Slam this year but I was extremely close at Wimbledon (fifth set against Novak Djokovic).

"But I've played very consistently or I would not be in this position. It's a very different year end for me. But If I don't win a few more titles number one won't happen.

"Right now, it's all to play for, I want to start it well here in Basel."

In addition to all of those objectives, Federer has the eight-man World Tour Finals in London to concentrate on the week prior to the Davis final.

With his crowded schedule, Federer said that he almost opted not to play Shanghai, where he won that Masters 1000 title for the first time less than a fortnight ago beating Frenchman Gilles Simon.

"I had considered not playing Shanghai and then playing Vienna. But at the end, I decided to go to Shanghai. If that had not gone well, I might have even skipped Paris (next week) to train on clay.

"But in the current situation, I'm feeling good. I had two weeks of vacation after the (September) Davis Cup semi-finals. There was even the possibility of not playing her for safety in case I had felt tired or injured after Shanghai.

"The team discussed everything: what was the best for energy, what was my passion, what to do.

"I'm happy I decided to play here. I'll take it from here but it's likely I'll also play Paris."

Federer heads a field where second seed Rafael Nadal is playing for the first time in a decade. The Spaniard won his opener on Monday, beating Simone Bolelli.

While the tournament drawcard was making final preparations, Davis Cup teammate Stan Wawrinka was going down to defeat in his opening match, losing to Kazakh Mikhail Kukushkin 6-4, 6-7(1), 6-3 in almost two and a quarter hours which saw the Australian Open champion's poor run of form continue having lost his last three matches.

The match was interrupted for 30 minutes as high winds buffetted city electric cables and caused e sudden dimming of stadium lights to below acceptable levels.

Date: 22nd October 2014, Source: AFP

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"Surprised" Federer eager to exploit World No. 1 chance

It may be a surprise to him that he is in this position, but the battle for year-end No. 1 is now not far from Roger Federer’s mind as he prepares to make his 15th appearance at his hometown tournament in Basel this week.

Victory at the recent Shanghai Rolex Masters - where he defeated Gilles Simon to claim his 23rd ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title - put Federer within striking distance of Novak Djokovic in the race to finish year-end World No. 1.

Djokovic, who is not in action this week, leads Federer by 990 points in the ATP Race To London (the year-to-date standings), a gap that Federer could narrow to less than 500 points if he lifts the trophy at the Swiss Indoors Basel for a sixth time this week. Indeed, there is the potential for Federer to earn 3000 points in total from Basel, Paris and the ATP World Tour Finals, giving him a very real chance of pipping Djokovic to the post.

Speaking in Basel on Tuesday, Federer, who previously held the No. 1 mantle for 302 weeks, said, “It's all to play for and I hope to start off well in Basel. The fact that I've gotten so close to No. 1 is a bit of a surprise to me, because clearly I'm aware I haven't won a Slam. But I was extremely close at Wimbledon and I've been very consistent throughout, otherwise I wouldn't be in this situation.

“It's a different year end than I thought it was going to be, but it doesn't actually change a whole lot. I was always going to play the tournaments that I'm playing now and I know that if I don't win a few of them, World No. 1 is not going to happen as well.”



The 33-year-old Federer, who finished year-end World No. 1 in 2004-07 and 2009, has a 51-9 record at the ATP World Tour 500 tournament in Basel, reaching the final 10 times (5-5 record). He is looking to reclaim the trophy, having finished runner-up the past two years to Juan Martin del Potro.

“I hope after the very solid year that I've played this year, there's good tennis left in me for this tournament,” said Federer, who made his main draw debut in Basel as a 17 year old against Andre Agassi in 1998. “The pressure has changed a lot over the years. I wanted to do so well here when I was younger that... I don't want to say it consumed me, because I actually never played a poor tournament here. But now, with the experience I have, I take it as a normal tournament.

“Once I get out on the courts, it's a nice feeling being back in the arena that I know so well and where I've had so much success. But I'm not panicky about the tournament anymore like I used to be maybe 10 years ago, when it all started for me.

"I've played here so many times. I know how the court feels and that is an advantage,” said top seed Federer, who opens his campaign against Gilles Muller on Wednesday evening. “Of course, the pressure can always get to you, but I think with the experience I have these days, I walk out and I'm actually quite laidback and really excited to be back on the centre court in Basel.”

Date: 21st October 2014, Source: ATP

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