Federer on the verge of winning record 10th Basel Open title

Roger Federer entered the finals of the Basel Open for the third consecutive year after cruising past Stefanos Tsitsipas on Saturday evening. Federer defeated Tsitsipas 6-4, 6-4 in a match that lasted for 79 minutes.

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Crowd on his side

Federer, fresh after two days of rest was sharp throughout the match which he started on the front foot to claim the win. Federer, who started out as a ball-boy at the Basel Open acknowledged the crowd support and said that it was always helpful when the crowd is helping. "Even if I’m up a set and a break, the [crowd] are not just there when I’m down in the score and feel like I need it. They enjoy when I’m playing good tennis and it pushes me to play even better, keep on trying every point and try to make something happen. That’s what you do with a home-court advantage,” he said. Federer has already won the tournament on previous nine occasions and is roaring to make it to 10 wins. 

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Widely regarded as the best player in the sport and as one of the best athletes of all time, Federer started off as a ball boy for two years and then went on to play the Championships later. He has had an extremely successful career with 20 Grandslams and was delighted to be back at his home court. He said, "I remember playing the qualifying here in 1997 and then my first [main draw] wild card here the next year, playing Andre Agassi. Who would have thought that I’d go on to have this kind of career? I remember being heartbroken losing my first final here in five sets (to Thomas Enqvist in 2000), but now there’s been another 14 since. I’m just so pleased to have made it to the finals again." 

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Finals opponent

Federer will play the Australian youngster Alex de Minaur in the finals of the tournament on Sunday evening after the latter defeated Reilly Opelka in the other semifinals 6(2)-7,7-6(4),6(3)-7. The two will be playing each other for the first time. 

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