In a repeat of last year’s final at the Swiss Indoors Basel 500, Juan Martin Del Potro again denied Roger Federer and his hometown crowd: 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-4. The win gave the Argentine his fourth title of 2013. Federer was playing in his eighth consecutive final at his local tournament, his tenth overall, where he has won five titles.
The match was an entertaining affair, with much good tennis on display. Del Potro broke in the eighth game of the first set, but Federer broke back immediately, and the set eventually went to a tiebreak, which the Argentine world No. 5 dominated handily. The Swiss, currently ranked No. 7, broke early in the second and raced through in very fine form. However, Del Potro returned the favor in the first game of the decider. Federer nearly broke back in the next game, but Del Potro hung on, and the one break proved to be enough for the win.
Federer has yet to qualify for the ATP World Tour Finals, and will need to win his second round match in Paris this week to assure his place, in what would be his twelfth consecutive year-end championship tournament. Juan Martin Del Potro has already qualified.
[divider]
Photo credit: Marianne Bevis (Creative Commons License)