Re-living Roger Federer's 10 title runs in Basel

Bhargav
Roger Federer lifts the Basel title for the tenth time, in 2019
Roger Federer lifts the Basel title for the tenth time, in 2019

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

Federer celebrates his first title in Basel in 2006
Federer celebrates his first title in Basel in 2006

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

Federer poses with his second Basel title in 2007
Federer poses with his second Basel title in 2007

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

Federer completed a three-peat in Basel in 2008
Federer completed a three-peat in Basel in 2008

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

Federer beats Djokovic in the final, for his 4th Basel title in 2010
Federer beats Djokovic in the final, for his 4th Basel title in 2010

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.

5. 2011 - Beat Kei Nishikori

Federer beats Nishikori in the 2011 final, for his 5th Basel title
Federer beats Nishikori in the 2011 final, for his 5th Basel title

Federer started his 12th Basel campaign with a straight-sets win over Italian Potito Starace. He then dropped a set against 2007 finalist Jarkko Nieminen but pulled out a win in three to reach his 11th quarterfinal at the tournament.

The Swiss maestro overcame American Andy Roddick and then his good friend Stan Wawrinka in straight sets in his next two matches, to reach his eighth Basel final where Japan's Kei Nishikori lay in wait.

Federer beat Nishikori 6-1, 6-3 in the title match to celebrate his 5th Basel title. It marked the fourth time Federer won a tournament for the fifth time - Wimbledon, Halle, and US Open being the others.

6. 2014 - Beat David Goffin

Federer celebrates his 6th Basel title in 2014
Federer celebrates his 6th Basel title in 2014

Following defeats to Juan Martin del Potro in his previous two Basel finals, Federer marked his 15th appearance at his hometown tournament with a straight-sets win over Luxembourg's Gilles Müller. Denis Istomin stretched Federer to three sets in the next round before wins over Grigor Dimitrov and big-serving Ivo Karlović landed the Swiss maestro in his 11th Basel title match.

Belgian David Goffin offered little resistance in the final, as Federer sealed his first Basel title in three years, for his sixth triumph overall. It was the Swiss maestro's fifth title of the season, after Dubai, Halle, Cincinnati and Shanghai.

7. 2015 - Beat Rafael Nadal

Federer poses with his 7th Basel title, in 2015
Federer poses with his 7th Basel title, in 2015

Federer opened his 16th Basel campaign with a straight-sets win against Mikhail Kukushkin before dropping a set in the second round against Philipp Kohlschreiber.

Successive victories over the previous year's finalist David Goffin and American Jack Sock respectively set up a title showdown against his nemesis Rafael Nadal.

Despite a 5-14 head-to-head deficit in all title clashes leading into the Basel title match, Federer made the brighter start, taking the first set 6-3. Nadal fought back with a 7-5 second set to force a decider. But it was Federer who won the contest in three sets to end a 5-match losing streak in all competitions against the Spaniard.

The win would kick-start a run of 5 successive wins for Federer against Nadal.

The title triumph marked Federer's seventh title in his hometown, and sixth title of the season.

8. 2017 - Beat Juan Martin del Potro

Federer celebrates his 8th Basel title in 2017
Federer celebrates his 8th Basel title in 2017

Following an absence of one year, Federer embarked on his 17th Basel campaign with a straight-sets win over young American Frances Tiafoe. Further victories over Benoît Paire, Adrian Mannarino and David Goffin set up a title showdown with Juan Martin Del Potro, in a rematch of the 2012-13 title matches which had gone the Argentinian's way.

Del Potro took the opening set on a tiebreak. But Federer dispelled the spectre of a third-straight Basel final defeat against the Argentine by taking the next two sets 6-4, 6-3 to seal his 8th Basel title.

It was Federer's seventh title of a fabulous comeback season which saw the Swiss maestro win the Australian Open and Wimbledon titles.

9. 2018 - Beat Marius Copil

Federer beats Copil to celebrate his 9th Basel title in 2018
Federer beats Copil to celebrate his 9th Basel title in 2018

Federer was taken the distance in his tournament opener against Filip Krajinovic before dropping another set against Frenchman Gilles Simon in the quarterfinals. The latter was after a straight-sets win over Jan-Lennard Struff in the second round.

A straight-sets win over Daniil Medvedev in the last-four took Federer to a 14th title match in Basel, where he faced world No. 112 Marius Copil of Romania.

Despite a stern challenge from the Romanian, Federer edged out a tight match in straight sets, 7-6(5) 6-4, to lift the title at his hometown for a ninth time.

10. 2019 - Beat Alex De Minaur

Federer beats De Minaur to lift his 10th Basel title in 2019
Federer beats De Minaur to lift his 10th Basel title in 2019

Federer dropped five games in his first two rounds against Peter Gojowczyk and Radu Albot before a walkover against good friend and compatriot Stan Wawrinka in the quarters took the Swiss maestro to a last-four showdown against his Australian Open conqueror Stefanos Tstisipas.

Federer conquered the World No. 7 in straight sets, 6-4 6-4, to reach a 15th Basel final, where Alex De Minaur awaited.

The former Basel ball-boy, in his first clash against the young Australian, dished out a tennis lesson, as a 6-2 6-2 victory in over an hour delivered a double-digit title haul at his hometown.

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