Federer Is Pumped For London After A Win In Basel

Written by: Staff on 7th November 2011

Swiss Indoors tennis tournament in Basel

Federer Is Pumped For London After A Win In Basel

Switzerland's Roger Federer cheers after winning his quarter final match against USA's Andy Roddick at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 04 November 2011. EPA/GEORGIOS KEFALAS |

Roger Federer will be the defending champion at the upcoming Barclays ATP World Tour Finals in London while this week’s BNP Paribas Masters at Paris’ Palais Omnisports de Bercy is one of the notable blanks on the Swiss’ list of 68 singles titles. So the world no.4’s insistence that he is fit and ready for a late season winning run is not something to be taken lightly by his rivals.

Federer’s confidence was clearly sky high after a ten month wait for a title win came to an end as he got his name on the Swiss Indoor trophy in Basel for the fifth time in his career.

It was the world no.4’s first final appearance since losing the French Open to Rafael Nadal in early June and he heads back to Paris insistent that the six week rest he took by missing the Asian swing would be beneficial.

“I’m feeling ready and fit and fired up, that’s how it’s supposed to be,” said Federer after his emphatic Basel final win over Kei Nishikori.

“This is the last push of the season and I’m ready for it. It’s been a great start to the autumn, I think my pause paid off. I’ve got different priorities than some of the younger guys who are ranked around me, I needed to take that time off, it was best for my mind, my body, my family and my fitness.”

Federer’s best showing at Bercy came last year when he lost out in the semi-final to local hero Gael Monfils but undeterred he went on to triumph in London with a final win over Rafael Nadal.

He added: “There is a lot of tennis to be played until the end of the season and it will be packed in early 2012. I want to be a danger everywhere that I play.”

However Federer reached the Bercy semi-final on an exceptionally quick surface. This year tournament director Jean-Francois Caujolle has elected to adopt a far more pedestrian court.

Second seed Andy Murray reported after a practice session: “It is very, very slow.”

DAILY TENNIS NEWS WIRE

Topics: Basel, Bercy, Federer, London