Tennis

Roger Federer finds it hard to believe he’s reached record 15th Swiss Indoors Basel final


Roger Federer says reaching a 15th final at the Swiss Indoors is “hard to believe”.

Federer was masterful on his own serve as he outclassed Stefanos Tsitsipas to win 6-4 6-4 in Basel.

Victory for Federer made it 23 in a row for the Swiss at the tournament and his 50th of the year.

And the 38-year-old says that despite years of success, it still comes as a shock to him.

“It was nice to come out strong. It was a really intense 35 or 40 minutes to start,” Federer told the ATP after the match.

“I had a good middle section which gave me the first set and the lead in the second set, and never looked back.

“It’s hard to believe that I’m in another Basel final. It’s super exciting.”

Federer also gave credit to the fans at the St Jakobshalle for pushing him on.

“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,” Federer said.

“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.”

In the final, Federer will play NextGen Alex de Minaur, who is enjoying a breakthrough year.

It is the fourth time this season that De Minaur has reached the last Sunday of a tournament and the 20-year-old is the first Australian to reach the final in Basel since Mark Philippoussis in 1997.

“I can’t wait. It’s my first time here in Basel and it’s been a hell of an experience,” De Minaur said.

“I’ve got my friends with me, so it’s a little bit different and it’s been paying off.

“I’m really looking forward to coming out tomorrow and having some fun.”



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