Federer Cools Off Goffin for Sixth Career Basel Title

October 27, 2014 | By Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Roger Federer captured his sixth Swiss Indoors Basel title on Sunday, defeating David Goffin 6-2, 6-2. In doing so, the Switzerland native moves closer to Novak Djokovic for the year-end number one spot.

“It would be very special to reclaim number one,” said Federer. “World number one is what it’s all about in our game. With the year I have had and the amount of finals I have played, the level of tennis I have played, I am pleased to see that I have a shot.

But having a shot and being there is two separate things. I am sure that Novak is going to come in very motivated, just after having a baby. I am very happy for him. There are clearly interesting weeks ahead.”

Federer now moves within 490 points of Djokovic for that number one ranking. The title is the 82nd of his career and fifth this season. He ran through the young Belgian, who entered the contest with wins in 43 of his last 45 matches.

“It was a tough match of course, against Roger in his hometown,” said Goffin. “He is in great shape and he played so good today. It was too tough for me today. I made a lot of mistakes, I didn’t serve very well. But at the end it’s a good week for me and I’ll try to do better next time.”

Federer controlled the match from the beginning, claiming the first break of the match to give him the early lead. He lost just one point in the final three games of the frame to cruise to a 6-2 first set win in 23 minutes.

The second set was much of the same as the Swiss notched a break point in the fifth game to go up 3-2. He rattled off the final three games from there to dispose of the Belgian in just 51 minutes.

Federer played sound tennis, firing five aces as a part of his 19 overall winners. He improves his match record in 2014 to a world tour best 66-10.

“I’m very pleased how well I’m playing,” said Federer. “It was a great final, I think I played really well. I’m full of confidence now. I was expecting it to be tough and him taking charge at times but I think I was really able to control the match with my serve and then with my variation on the return.”

With the gap between Djokovic and Federer shrinking, the BNP Paribas Masters next week becomes that much more important. There are 2,500 points up for grab in the Paris tournament, the final one prior to the ATP World Tour Finals in London.

 


Long Island Tennis Magazine Staff
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