TENNIS – Five-time Basel champion Roger Federer was the special guest of the television programme Sportpanorama on Sunday afternoon on the Swiss television SF2 ahead of his debut at the Swiss Open in his home city on Wednesday against Gilles Muller. He spoke about his return to form this year after a difficult 2013 season and his plans for the final part of the year marked by the ATP Finals in London and the Davis Cup final in Lille. Diego Sampaolo
After falling behind to eighth place at the end of a tough 2013 season plagued by a back problem Federer enjoyed a successful 2014 in which he won four titles in Dubai, Halle, Cincinnati and Shanghai and 61 match wins. No other player won so many matches this year. He leads the ATP Tour with most match wins (61) and top 10 wins (13) and played in nine finals, more than anybody else in the circuit. Djokovic leads by 990 points over Federer in the ATP Race to London but the Swiss player has still chances to end the year in Number 1 position. If he wins in Basel, Paris Bercy, London and his two singles matches in Lille, he may score 3225 points (500 in Basel, 1000 in Paris, 1500 in London and 225 at the Davis Cup). On the contrary Djokovic would score 2500 points and stay at the top of the ranking at the end of the year in the case he defends the titles he won last year in Paris Bercy and London.
Federer is looking forward to a very busy end of the year with his home tournament in Basel, the Paris Bercy Master 1000, the ATP Finals in London and the Davis Cup final between France and Switzerland in Lille. Federer will be bidding to win his first Davis Cup, one of the few trophies missing from his impressive collection of titles. His recent training on clay after his triumph in Shanghai in preparation for the Davis Cup Final suggested the possibility that he could miss Paris Bercy but he confirmed that the last Master 1000 Tournament of the season is in his plan, although he is looking ahead to the rest of the season week by week approach.
“I played 71 matches, more than any other player this year. I am proud of how the season is going on. I will probably play in Bercy but I am looking to the rest of the season week by week. I am looking forward to playing in Basel, Paris Bercy, London and Lille. but my priorities are London and Lille. It will be a tough final part of the season but I am fresh and ready to face the full schedule ahead in the coming month”, said Federer
Federer will make his 15th appearance in his home tournament. He reached the final in the past eight editions.
The other big Swiss star Stan Wawrinka is looking to boost his confidence on home soil after a disappointing Asian Swing where he lost in the opening round in Tokyo and Shanghai. Wawrinka will open against Mikhail Kukushkin who reached the third round in Shanghai and the semifinal in Moscow.
