Del Potro Stops Federer in Basel Final

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Del Potro Stops Federer in Basel Final

By Chris Oddo

(October 28, 2012)—Juan Martin Del Potro won his second straight ATP title and tenth straight match against Roger Federer in the Swiss Indoors Basel final, 6-4, 6-7(5), 7-6(3).

More important in a psychological sense, Del Potro finally found a way to beat Federer after seven consecutive losses dating back to the summer of 2011.

The win snaps a run of two consecutive Basel titles for Federer, who has won the event in five out of the last seven years and reached the final in the other two. The loss for Federer also leaves the World No. 1 in a tie with John McEnroe for fourth on the ATP’s all-time win list with 875, and one title behind McEnroe for fourth all-time with 76 career titles.

Had it not been for the resiliency of Federer, Del Potro might have done it in straight sets. But Federer, not at his very best in this his ninth career Basel final and 109th career final, managed to squeak through a tense second-set tiebreaker on the strength of a single mini-break procured on the third point.

From there Federer held his nerve, not dropping a point on serve to force the decider.

In the third set it was Federer who looked to have the upper hand, as he had four chances to break the big man in the third set—including three in Del Potro’s second service game of the set—but each was brushed back by cool, confident serving from the Argentine.

Del Potro finished with 10 aces, but that number doesn’t reflect the effectiveness of his first serve, which kept Federer guessing all day, and saw Del Potro win 54 of 62 of the points in which he made first serves.

Federer was up to the task from the service stripe as well, as the 31-year-old hammered 18 aces and only faced two break points on the afternoon.

Federer would see his final break point dissolve at 3-3 in the third set when he missed a forehand long. From that point on, big serving dictated play until the deciding tiebreak.

In the breaker, Federer received a bit of good luck when his challenge reversed a call that would have given Del Potro the first mini-break at 3-2. Replays showed the ball was in by a sliver and Federer served again, only to make a crucial forehand error that would turn out to be his kiss of death.

After a nifty backhand scoop volley by Federer to keep it close at 4-3, Del Potro won the next two points, putting Federer in the undesirable position of serving while facing three match points.

Del Potro stood his ground, making a return and drawing one final error to clinch his first win against Federer after six consecutive losses this year.

While Federer still holds a 13-3 career edge against Del Potro, the Argentine can feel good about the fact that he has won two of three finals against the Swiss maestro.

(Photo Credit: Keystone/Georgios Kefalas)