Roger Federer wins 99th title, beats Copil in Swiss indoors final

Mangalore Today News Network

Switzerland, Oct 29: Roger Federer won his 99th career ATP tour title on Sunday, 28 October, beating qualifier Marius Copil 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the Swiss Indoors final.

A ninth title at Federer’s hometown event in Basel, where he was once a ball boy, matched the nine he has won at the Halle grass-court event in Germany. He closed the gap on the all-time singles titles list to Jimmy Connors, who leads with 109.

Federer blew kisses to a 12,000 crowd in the renovated St. Jakobhalle, which now gives Basel’s local hero a bigger main stage.

"It’s been a magical week. It was dream run for me," Federer said in his on-court acceptance speech, before his fans’ ovation brought tears welling in his eyes.

"To come through and win again here in my hometown, never knowing if this might be your last time... it obviously means a lot to me and it becomes very emotional" - Roger Federer

The top-seeded Swiss rallied from trailing by a service break in each set against the 93rd-ranked Romanian, whose serve was measured at 243 kph (151 mph) in his opening service game.

Federer clinched minutes after saving a break point, taking his first match-point chance when Copil sent a backhand into the net.

Federer’s 151st singles final on the ATP tour shaped as one of his biggest mismatches by ranking. He has never lost a final to an opponent ranked below No 87.

Their first meeting came after Federer amassed 20 Grand Slam singles titles, while Copil has just one career match win at a Grand Slam – in the 2015 Australian Open first round.

The 28-year-old Copil came to Basel with career prize money – $1.67 million – significantly less than Federer earned just for winning the Australian Open in January. His second career runner-up finish, both this season, earned almost 210,000 euros ($239,000).

Copil, currently ranked No 93, will rise to a career-best ranking of No 60 when the new list is published Monday.

"I would love for it to be the beginning of my career at this level," said Copil, who played his first tour-level match in 2009.

The first-set tiebreaker was likely to be crucial given Copil’s career record of 8-52 when losing the opening set in top-tier matches.

Federer got a mini-break in the seventh point, being rewarded for solid defense from the baseline when Copil netted an attempted drop shot.