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WEEKLY
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| Djokovic ends Swiss’ Basel reign |
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Monday, November 09, 2009
BASEL, Switzerland: Novak Djokovic ended Roger Federer’s title run in Basel with a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 upset victory on Sunday in the Swiss Indoors final.
The Serb second seed won a marathon 24-minute tenth game of the opening set and then began the decider with two breaks to stun the winner of the last three editions in his hometown.
It was Djokovic’s fifth win in 14 career matches with Federer who lost at home for the first time since 2003.
Earlier, Djokovic beat Radek Stepanek 6-7 (4), 7-5, 6-2 in their semifinal on Saturday. Federer then beat childhood friend and fellow Basel-native Marco Chiudinelli 7-6(7), 6-3 in the other semifinal.
“I’m ready for a tough match. Novak’s played solid tennis during the week,” said Federer, who has a 9-4 career record against Djokovic.
They’ve split four matches this year, with Federer winning their last meeting in straight sets in the US Open semifinals.
“Obviously the home crowd will be behind him,” Djokovic said of playing Federer in the St Jakobshalle — where the 28-year-old Swiss was once a ballboy.
The third-ranked Djokovic trailed 5-4 in the second set and was 0-40 down before reeling off five straight points to win the game.
“I wouldn’t say necessarily it was my good shots that prevented the loss. It was luck only,” Djokovic said. “I just tried to get some first serves in and at least get that advantage. On this (hard-court) surface, it’s crucial.”
He then broke the 14th-ranked Stepanek’s serve for the first time before dominating the decider.
Djokovic’s ATP Tour-leading 70th win this year carried him into his ninth final, also best on tour. He is 3-5 in title matches in 2009.
Chiudinelli had a set point in a thrilling first-set tie-breaker, but Federer struck a backhand crosscourt winner as his opponent advanced to the net, then took the next two points.
Federer broke serve early in the second set and quickly closed out the win. He has progressed without dropping serve in four matches, though Djokovic will be his first seeded opponent.
Chiudinelli was playing in the first semifinal of his injury-affected career, and earned a place in the main draw of next week’s Paris Masters.
Djokovic’s first serves faltered in the second set, and a double fault gave Stepanek three match points.
Djokovic responded with heavy serves and ground strokes, and needed just one set point on his next service game. He converted it with a forehand winner. In the decider, Djokovic got service breaks in the first and seventh games.
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ISSN 1563-9479 
