Juan Martin Del Potro defends his Basel title with another three-set win over Roger Federer on Sunday. Federer’s bid for a World Tour Finals berth will extend to Paris as a result of the loss.
Juan Martin Del Potro held off Roger Federer 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-4 in the final of the Swiss Indoors Basel on Sunday afternoon. A rematch of last year’s title match saw Del Potro again prevail in three sets, this time after two hours and 15 minutes.
The 2012 final featured tiebreakers in each of the last two sets, and this one began in similar fashion. Del Potro, though, had a chance to close it out earlier after breaking for 5-3 when Federer sent a forehand just over the baseline. A terrible service game by the Argentine promptly erased his advantage and Federer eventually played his way into a ‘breaker after saving two set points–one with an ace and another after a brilliant rally.
Del Potro took control right away by earning mini-breaks for 2-0 and 3-0. Federer got one back and pulled to within 4-3 but he could get no closer. Del Potro took care of two service points for a 6-3 lead before converting set point by rifling a return that his opponent could not handle.
The top seed had endured a mental walkabout in the middle frame of his three-set win over Edouard Roger-Vasselin and the story was the same in the title match. At the same time, however, Federer turned in another solid set. The 32-year-old Swiss jumped on Del Potro early and often, first breaking for a quick 2-0 advantage. Federer struck five aces and lost only four points in four service games before breaking again at 5-2 to force a third set in style.
Del Potro got back on track to begin the third, with plenty of help from Federer. The No. 3 seed double-faulted three times in the opening game, once when he had a game point and again to give Del Potro a third break chance, on which he capitalized. Federer missed two break opportunities to get back on level terms in the very next game, but he kept himself within striking distance by fighting off a break point at 2-4. Still, he never came close to breaking after the 1-0 game. Del Potro won 16 of 17 first-serve points in the decider and served it out at 5-4, clinching his second match point with a powerful inside-out forehand.
Both players next head to Paris for the BNP Paribas Masters. Del Potro has already qualified for the World Tour Finals, while Federer is in good shape for a berth in London but had to win on Sunday in order to mathematically clinch.
Tough forRoger. He has played 3 long 3 setters this week. I think will atleast have to make qtrs of Paris to qualify safely as he will get 180 points for the 200 he lost today
Fed needs to earn 55 points to qualify for the WTF.
The first round against Youzhny/Anderson could be tricky
RT @A_Gallivant: “Delpo: I am proud to have a good relationship with Federer. I learn alot from him. He’s a better person than tennis player.”
Papa Djokovic begs to differ……….
Really hope Rafa keeps tab with Serene and wins his 11th title..They have been fairly in sync all season save few tourneys here n there.
Cmon Rafa..win either WTF or Paris..ofcourse hope both but tats too much to ask for indoors..1 will do
I am watching the match now. I tuned in to the last half of the second set in the Valencia final. I wanted to watch this match without knowing the score in advance. But after the final, they showed the results this year for the 500 tournaments and that’s when I saw that Delpo won.
I did pick Delpo in three, going with my gut. But this is still a tough result for Fed, in a year that has just been bad for him. I would think winning in front of his countrymen and securing a spot in the WTF, would have been very satisfying.
Now it’s back to watching the match.
That was a great final, and both players were their usual classy selves during the match and in their post match comments. I loved the ovation that Fed got from the crowd during the trophy presentation!
went on forever
Reblogged this on Dmitry Druzhinsky.