Roger Federer returned to championship status at his home Swiss Indoors on Sunday, beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 to avenge a finals loss a year ago against the Serb.
The fourth Basle trophy marked the 65th of a brilliant career for the world number two and moves him into fourth on the all-time list of title winners.
The 29-year-old pulled level on 64 with Pete Sampras with a third trophy this season in Stockholm last month.
The Basle triumph came in Federer’s fifth consecutive final at the St Jakobshalle, where he got his start in the game as a ballboy nearly two decades ago. Watching in the stands were his family including his parents, sister, wife Mirka and the couple’s tiny twin girls, 14 months old.
Federer thrilled a partisan home town crowd of 8,000 as he overcame one of his main rivals in just under two hours, breaking Djokovic twice in the final set and going through to victory on the first of three match points with a backhand winner to the empty court.
“It is even more special to win again at home,” said Federer. “I had a super week and a tough final to play. It’s always tough to play Novak.
“We’ve met so many times and he knows my game and how to beat me. He had a great week here.”
“It is always a big challenge to play Roger,” said Djokovic, focusing the last few weeks of his season on the December 3-5 Davis Cup final for Serbia at home in Belgrade against France. “Roger deserved to win, he was the better player today,” said Djokovic.
“I have to look at the positive side. Having great rivals like Roger and Rafa makes me try to improve.”
