Federer in Basel: An Innocent Beginning, an Ufathomable Middle

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Federer in Basel: An Innocent Beginning, an Ufathomable Middle

“He’s got a good-looking game, I must say. Athletic build, a very stylish, easily hit forehand, good power on the serve, one-handed backhand that’s quite wristy—I think he’s quite some talent.” – The matter-of-fact thoughts of the Eurosport commentator, as he’s preparing to call Roger Federer’s first ever match at the Swiss Indoors Basel in 1998.

Basel Draw: Federer and Nadal in Opposite Halves

Federer would go on to lose to Agassi, 6-3, 6-2, but the era of the maestro had officially begun in Basel. The next year he’d sail into the quarterfinals as a wild card and the following year he’d reach his first of 11 career finals in Basel as the World No. 34. Surprisingly, it would take another six years—Federer would already be a nine-time major champion by then—for Federer to finally win the title in Basel, but as Federer tells it, there were lots of outside pressures to deal with at the tournament in which he once served as a ball boy who rode his bike to work.

“In the beginning there was just so much going on that it was kind of crazy, but in a good way,” Federer told reporters on Saturday in Basel, as he prepared to attempt to win in Basel for the seventh time. “I remember I was always very nervous on court because I always wanted to do so well here. I grew up here. I played soccer just behind the stadium. I came here on my bike as a ball boy. It feels like it was yesterday. This is what makes the tournament so special.”

Who knew then, that a talented but unproven Federer, a Wimbledon junior champion at the time, would go on to accomplish all that he has? The 34-year-old will make his sixteenth appearance in Basel as its top seed this year. He’s racked up every accolade a player can rack up and he’s still locking down milestones as he beats back time in his 18th year on tour. He’s a 17-time major champion with over a 1,000 ATP wins (closing in on 1,050 this week, in fact), 87 titles and nearly $100,000,000 in prize money earnings.

“Then it was maybe if you win a set, it would be great,” Federer told reporters on Saturday, according to ATPWorldTour.com. “Winning a round would be great. Next thing you know, I was defending titles.

“I still enjoy it as much as ever. It's true that the routines now are easier. I know how to handle ticketing. I know how to handle having friends here and family.”

After losing early in Shanghai, Federer spend some time in Dubai recharging his fitness. Now he’s back in Basel ready to grind through his hometown tournament, next week’s Paris Masters and the Barclays World Tour Finals at the end of the season. It’s a lot to prepare for, but Federer knows how to take it all in stride now. On Sunday be bundled up and took in a Basel FC game in the chilly autumn weather, clearly not as weighed down by expectations and pressure as he used to be in his hometown.

Federer supporting @FC_Basel today! pic.twitter.com/LMfjfIWNpz
— chiara gambuzza (@ChiaraGamTWI) October 25, 2015

At the end of his 1998 debut in Basel, after Federer shakes hand with Agassi, the same commentator who described Federer’s game prior to the match says, “I think we’ll see a lot more of Federer,” as the broadcast is wrapping up. He says it casually, almost hopefully.

Taking in the video today is a surreal experience. As improbable it is for a ball boy to emerge from the ranks to become a 17-time major champion, it’s also improbable to think that there was ever a time when Roger Federer’s future wasn't already a part of the past. That he was once a young unproven with a nice game but could he really stand up and become a man in the cutthroat world of professional tennis?

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