Home town hero Roger Federer captured his ninth title in Basel, after beating Romanian Marius Copil in straight sets 7-6(5), 6-4.
The world number three, has now won 99 ATP Tour titles in his career, and is now 10 tournament wins behind Jimmy Connors who’s 109 is the all time record for male tennis players.
Copil, however, gave a great fight in this final, as in the first set, with both men having held their first service games, he broke the 20 time Grand Slam winner, after he double faulted at 15-40 down. Federer got back on serve after breaking the 93rd rank player after he hit a slice into the net.
With Copil’s first serve been calculated as high as 151 mph, both he and Federer held on to their serves for the rest of the opening set, and they were headed for a tie-break.
The tie break itself, was a tightly fought affair, which Federer won 7-5. A long rally between the opponents, ended with Copil hitting a forehand long, the local lad, gave a loud “C’mon”, and the local crowd cheered ferociously.
There was a case of deja vu about the second set, as yet again, the Romanian broke the Swiss, and again, Federer had to come back.
Copil held his first service game of the second set, and broke Federer, to go 2-0 up, when he hit a forehand into the net, after a solid return by the Arad born player.
The Swiss master broke again to even up the set, when he slammed an overhead to make it 3-4, and he held onto his serve to tie the set at four.
The very next game on Copil’s serve, Federer broke, as the Romanian hit a running forehand wide of the line as he charged the net.
Serving for the match and the title, Federer faced a break point, down 30-40, but a well placed first serve even the game, and he eventually reached set, match and championship point soon after.
He claimed the title after his opponent hit a backhand into the net, and he raised his arm in triumph.
Federer has played 12 straight finals in Basel, won 20 straight matches and achieved his fourth triumph of 2018, after victories at the Australian Open, Rotterdam and Stuttgart.
The Swiss maestro tentatively scheduled to compete in the Paris Master next week, but up until writing, he was yet to confirm his participation in the event, he has not played in since 2015.
He will then be off to London to compete in the ATP Tour Finals at The O2 Arena in London, a tournament he has won six times, but the last time was in seven years ago.
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