DESETKA ZA KUĆU
U toku moje intenzivne sedmice u Beogradu i Partizanovog euro dvomeča, Federer je imao dosta manje intezivnu sedmicu u rodnom Bazelu gdje je po jubilarni deseti put podigao pehar. Rodžer je naime u jednom totalno dominantnom stilu poništio rivale na putu do trofeja, prepustivši svega 18 gemova na čitavom turniru. Redom su padali Njemac Gojovčik 6:2, 6:1 potom Moldavac Albot koji ga umalo nije pobijedio u Majamiju, ovog puta je pokupio krompir 6:0, 6:3, Vavrinka je predao meč bez borbe u četvrtfinalu, a u polufinalu na papiru najveći izazov, ali i rutinskih 6:4, 6:4 protiv Top 10 kolege, Grka Cicipasa. Konačno finale je donijelo još jednu briljatnu predstavu i nešto poput onog iz 2017. kada je demolirao Gofana, bolje sreće nije bio ni mladi Australijanac Aleks De Minaur koji je poražen sa 6:2, 6:2 za tačno jedan sat igre. Ovom titulom Rodžer je upisao četvrti pehar sezone, a ukupno 103. trofej karijere (sve bliži je Džimi Konorsu koji ima 109). Što se samog Bazela tiče, Federer je potvrdio svoju dominaciju na turniru gdje je posljednji put poražen još 2013. Od tada 5 titula (uz povredu koja ga je spriječila da nastupi 2016.) i serija od 24 vezana trijumfa na terenu Sent Jakob Hale.
O igri te sedmice mogu da se napišu romani, ali vjerovatno da bi poezija bolje uhvatila svu tu ljepotu uparenu sa efikasnošću. Već u prvom duelu protiv Gojovčika je nagovijestio domete (Njemac je u kvalifikacijama bio bolji od nekadašnjeg polufinaliste Karlovića). Letio je po terenu i u jednom baš atraktivnom meču protiv Petera napravio sjajn uvod u turnir (34 vinera i 13 grešaka). Treba istaći jednu zanimljivost da je Gojovčik jedini igrač na turniru koji je uspio da brejkne Federera i to u setu koji je izgubio 6-1. A ako je neko pomislio da to dovoljno govori o dominaciji, treba da odgleda snimak duela protiv Albota gdje je Federer uzeo prvih 8 gemova meča, a potom se poigravao, osvojivši i jedan od svojih trejdmark poena oko mreže. Trčao je Radu, ali nije mogao protiv Maestra. Vavrinka je predajom izbjegao čini se nesumnjiv poraz nakon što nije baš briljirao u svojim mečevima, a onda u duelu sa Cicipasom još jedna savršena izvedba - 28 vinera i 11 neiznuđenih, uz 12/13 na mreži, maksimalna agresivnost i oduzimanje vremena Grku, za petnaesto finale Bazela, u kojem je De Minaur igrao ulogu pomenutog Gofana iz finala '14 i '17 te bio poražen za svega sat vremena. Sve u svemu ovo je vjerovatno i najubljedljivije osvojen turnir još od perioda najsurovije dominacije (2004-07), pa kao takav biće savršena uvertira za Završni Masters u Londonu.
O ostalim informacijama Tata već dobro izvještava, Rodžer je najavio da će preskočiti jubilarni ATP kup, kako bi ipak proveo više vremena sa porodicom, te da će mu prvi nastup u novoj godini biti Australian Open u Melburnu. Pomalo rizično otići na turnir bez mečeva, ali ukidanje egzibicionog Hopman Kupa i ipak veća odricanja potrebna za ATP kup dovela su do te odluke. Kada su u pitanju egzibicije, po završetku turnira u Londonu Rodžer ide na put po Južnoj Americi, gdje će u seriji mečeva igrati protiv Zvereva (19.novembra Santjago da Čile, 22-og Bogota, 23-eg Meksiko Siti te 24-og Kito), odnosno Del Potra (20.novembra Buenos Ajres).
A odbrojavanje za Završni Masters u O2 Areni je i zvanično počelo. Izašle su grupe i Federer će se za plasman u polufinale boriti protiv Đokovića, Tima i Beretinija. Turnir otvara u nedjelju veče duelom protiv Austrijanca koji mu je veliki dužnik iz ove sezone, kada je u mečevima u Indijan Velsu i Madridu volšebno izbjegao poraze. Maksimalno spreman Rodžer ide u London, cilj je titula. Let's do it!
"It was fast but very nice. I think I played a great match. It was a tough opener, in the beginning, the first five games, we had some great rallies. I never looked back," Federer said. "I was great on the offence, made very few unforced errors and came up with the big shots and served well when I had to.
"I thought Alex played a great tournament as well, and I think we both can be very happy. But what a moment for me to win my 10th here in my hometown of Basel."
“You saw it hit me again hard winning here in Basel. I don’t take these tournament victories as a normal thing. I take them as something quite unique and special, even though it’s been a lot by now,” Federer said. “Every one has a different flavour and I try to enjoy them as much as I can in the moment.”
“I think it might be partially reminiscing back at everything that went on this week. Definitely the family, the thought of the team aspect, the family aspect, everything that goes into me still being able to do it today. People think I just go out there and just do it and have these types of weeks or these types of matches at will,” Federer said. “But there’s so much more that goes into it, let alone managing four children, [which] is a challenge, but a good one.
"Obviously when I stand there and look back at everything that I had to go through, it really touches me. Along with just the music and the thought of all the ball kids running in already gets me going.”
“Back in the day when you lifted a trophy as a junior you’re like, ‘Ahh, let’s just pretend to be one of the big guys.’ But you clearly know you’re not. Now when you’re able to do it in a stadium with people chanting your name or celebrating you or your tennis, it’s a wonderful feeling,” Federer said. “There you probably have a couple of parents around and one photographer who happened to be there at the time. So clearly things have changed. Luckily there were some photographers at the time, because it was more of a luxury to have a camera at the time. It’s been an incredible journey. It’s definitely very different today.”
“You don’t get a chance to win 10 titles at the same event many times in your career ever, so I couldn’t be more happy that it also happened here in Basel, in Halle also,” Federer said. “It’s been a great week, a wonderful time. The fans were unreal again, like so many other years. I played great tennis and was able to pull it all the way through until the very end.”
“I started off very strong and very well this week. I was able to really keep a very solid level and sometimes even a fantastic level,” Federer said. “[It was] never really in doubt. If only it was always like that, but it’s not. So I take this week as a good one for sure.”