Roger Federer won his 99th tour-level title on Sunday, defeating qualifier Marius Copil 7-6(5), 6-4 to triumph in front of his home crowd at the Swiss Indoors Basel for the ninth time.
The Swiss has now won 20 consecutive matches in Basel, extending his record at the event for which he was a ballboy as a child to 71-9. Federer has lifted the trophy at the ATP World Tour 500-level tournament in four consecutive appearances, and the 37-year-old has reached the final 12 times in a row when he has played the event.
The victory brings Federer within one title of the century mark, which only Jimmy Connors, with 109 tour-level singles titles, has reached. The top seed also leaves Basel with his fourth trophy of the season, a feat he has now accomplished 14 times.
Federer entered the match having never lost a tour-level final to anyone placed as low in the ATP Rankings as No. 93 Copil. But the Romanian, who earned his first two Top 10 wins earlier in the week against No. 6 Marin Cilic and No. 5 Alexander Zverev, showed no fear.
For the third time in four days, Federer fell behind an early break. Copil entered the match leading all players at the tournament in service games won (48/50) and break points saved (19/21). But Federer battled through the ensuing tie-break to take the lead.
The Romanian dug in, though, once again breaking early in the second set en route to a 4-1 lead. Copil dazzled the Swiss crowd with a number of impressive one-handed topspin backhand lobs for clean winners, and his booming serve frustrated the home favourite.
But Federer would not be denied by the 28-year-old. After breaking the two-time ATP World Tour finalist twice more, the second time when Copil missed a forehand wide by just milimeters, Federer closed out his title at the first time of asking, triumphing after one hour and 34 minutes.
Did You Know?
Federer will try to claim a record seventh title at the Nitto ATP Finals, to take place at The O2 in London from 11-18 November. If he triumphs, it will be the Swiss’ first victory as the season finale since 2011.
from Tennis - ATP World Tour https://ift.tt/2RlCsou
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