Re-living Roger Federer's 10 title runs in Basel
Making his 19th appearance in his hometown tournament in Basel, Roger Federer triumphed for the 10th time to complete a double-digit title haul at a second different tournament in his illustrious career. Federer's only other 10-title haul at a tournament came in Halle earlier in the season.
Debuting as a wildcard in Basel in 1998, a 17-year-old Federer fell to then top 10 player Andre Agassi in the first round. Federer reached his first Basel final two years later, falling to Thomas Enqvist in a five-set final.
The former Basel boy returned to his hometown tournament final the next year, only to fall short against Tim Henman in straight sets.
It would be five more years before Federer reached another final at his home town, and the Swiss maestro would celebrate the occasion by lifting his first title at the tournament. Since then, the Swiss maestro has reached the title match at each of his next 12 appearances in Basel, lifting the title on nine more occasions.
Facing young Australian Alex de Minaur in the 2019 Basel final, Federer's 5th consecutive triumph in as many appearances at his hometown marked the first time since US Open 2008 that he lifted the title at a tournament each time in five consecutive appearances.
Here is a recap of Federer's 10 triumphs at his hometown tournament.
1. 2006 - Beat Fernando González
In his seventh appearance in Basel, and first since ascending to the top of the world rankings, Federer dropped only five games in his first two rounds against Czech Tomáš Zíb and Spaniard Guillermo García López respectively. He then beat another Spaniard David Ferrer and Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan in consecutive matches to arrive in his third Basel final.
Facing Chile's Fernando González in the title match, the top seed made a fast start, romping to a two-set lead for the loss of five games. The third set was a sterner affair as González forced a tiebreaker before Federer re-asserted his dominance to complete a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6(3) win and celebrate his first title at his hometown.
2. 2007 - Beat Jarkko Nieminen
Basel transitioned from carpet to hardcourt in 2007. But the change in surface would have no bearing on Federer, as the hometown boy made a successful title defence for his second triumph in Basel.
Federer dropped his only set of the tournament against German left-hander Michael Berrer in the first round. Successive straight-sets wins over Juan Martin del Potro, Nicolas Keifer, Ivo Karlović and Jarkko Nieminen respectively marked the Swiss maestro's seventh title of the season and second in Basel.
3. 2008 - Beat David Nalbandian
In 2008 Federer arrived at his hometown tournament fresh off his 13th Grand Slam title at the US Open.
For the second time in as many Basel appearances, Federer would drop a set in his tournament opener (against American Bobby Reynolds). He then recorded consecutive wins over Jarkko Nieminen, Simone Bolleli and Feliciano López to set up a title showdown against his one-time nemesis David Nalbandian.
Federer beat the Argentine 6-3, 6-4 to complete a three-peat at his hometown tournament and fourth title of the season (also Estoril, Halle, and US Open).
4. 2010 - Beat Novak Djokovic
Straight-set wins over Alexander Dolgopolov, Janko Tipsarević, Radek Štěpánek and Andy Roddick set up a title showdown with young Serb Novak Djokovic, in a repeat of the pair's 2009 title match.
Federer made the stronger start against the defending champion, taking the first set 6-3, before Djokovic forced a decider by reversing the first set scoreline.
Determined to avoid a second successive final reversal at his hometown against his younger rival, Federer would drop only one game in the last set before celebrating his 4th title at his hometown.