“I definitely think it was a special one, no doubt about it,” Federer said of Saturday's shot. “I do believe the smash off the smash against [Andy] Roddick [in Basel in 2002] was special just because it was way back in the court, as well. And then there was one more in Dubai [in 2005] against [Andre] Agassi on break point. I was able to flick a ball. I still don't know how I did it today. It went for a lob over him. I don't know. It was just a massive point on top of it, and it was against Andre.”
"I think he didn't come up with the foods when he really had to, and I was good, I think, by making him hit that extra shot," Federer said. "Things worked well for me today."
"I thought Nick was inspired. He knew what he wanted to do. I din't quite, off the baseline, get the right balance going," Federer said. "It was important to somehow get out of it and stay within 4-3 and probably look at a tie-break. But I was able to break earlier, which was clearly great because I had no sniff on any of his service games in the first three or four. I didn't get discouraged, and I think that was also the key today."
“It was a tough match. Obviously Kei hogs the baseline much more than [Daniil] Medvedev did or also what [Roberto Bautista Agut] did. I think it was a different type of match,” Federer said, comparing the quarter-final to his first two matches in Shanghai. “I was very happy with the beginning of the match, to be quite honest. I played quite great there. Then the second set was key moments who was going to play a little bit better. Kei really tried to step it up one more time. I somehow got it done, so I was very pleased.”
“He's also really improved his game, stepping up in the court and hitting through the shots more than what he used to,” Federer said. “I think it's going to be tough. He's good in defence. He has a transition game now too, and he's got a solid serve. He's had a good tournament here again. I have always played him when he's playing well.”
“First and foremost for me it’s about winning here. I don’t care about anything else right now,” Federer said. “This win here in Basel means the world to me. It makes me so happy to win in front of my home crowd and make them happy in a way. It was a fantastic week.”
“It’s not always been easy the past few weeks. I’ve played well, but at times also I didn’t play as well, so it’s nice to come back to winning ways. Now we’ll see what happens next,” Federer said. “But obviously getting 99 is a huge, huge number for me. Getting nine here in Basel is crazy. I can’t believe it. It’s a major week for me in terms of all the records, so it’s great.
“Since many years, I don’t know if every title I win might be my last. I don’t know. I’m not saying I’m celebrating like it is my last, maybe I should… Here it’s always emotional, seeing the faces of the ball kids. Seeing myself in their shoes is very touching for me. Getting the standing ovations from the fans touches me a lot as well.”
“Walking out for a Basel final was always my dream, or just playing on the centre court was a thrill 21 years ago for the qualies,” Federer said. “So when you sit there and the trophy ceremony is starting and the ball kids walk out, I remember being in their shoes and [it being] me walking out.”
“Maybe I had to win it through good returning, through fighting and all that stuff, so maybe differently than some of my past tournament victories,” Federer said. “But winning is fun, winning gives you confidence and that’s what I’ll need if I want to do well in London and beat the best over there, so I hope that this confidence I gained from here is going to help me there.”
“Of course I have pressure, of course I have nerves, but I try to block it aside and just enjoy it for what it is and moreso think what a privilege it is to be in this position,” said Federer, who celebreated aftwerwards with about 50 family members and friends. “I’ll drive home and sleep in my own bed. It’s going to be great.”
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