Winning Basel Has Double Prize For Top Swiss Players

Written by: Bob Larson Tennis on 22nd October 2013

Winning Basel Has Double Prize For Top Swiss Players

epa03918272 Switzerland's Roger Federer returns a ball to France's Adrian Mannarino during their first round match for the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 21 October 2013. EPA/GEORGIOS KEFALAS |

Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka’s new rivalry to become Switzerland’s top ranked players take centre stage at this week’s Swiss Indoors event in Basel, with the battle to qualify for the remaining places at the upcoming Barclays ATP World Tour Finals adding extra spice.

Federer began his campaign to assure his annual trip to the London 02 Arena with a 6-4, 6-2 first round win over Frenchman Adrian Mannarino. But his recent slim pickings, primarily at Wimbledon, the US Open and most recently the Shanghai Rolex Masters, means the long time world no.1 has slipped down to eighth spot in the rankings and his place at London is under threat from not just Wawrinka but also the French duo of Richard Gasquet and Jo-Wilfried Tsonga.

Adopting a relaxed attitude Federer told the ATP’s own website: “”I’ll be happy if Stan qualifies.

“If that means I’ll miss it, I honestly don’t care. It means he was the better player for the year. I’m always happy for his results. I don’t see it as a rivalry as such.

“We’ll see at the end of Paris how it’s all going to pan out. But clearly with [Andy] Murray not playing it gives an extra spot and a little more air for both of us. I hope he can play a great tournament.”

By virtue of winning Sunday’s title in Moscow, Gasquet, is 25 points behind Federer with Tsonga just 90 points behind. Gasquet, like Federer and Wawrinka, is playing Basel and, with 500 points on offer for the champion, the next week could be crucial in the battle for London places.

A year ago it seemed that Federer wouldn’t be playing his hometown tournament this week after it transpired he demanded a $US 500,000 tax free guarantee to contest the event at which he once served as a ball kid.

Tournament director Roger Brennwald said: “We will do everything to ensure Roger Federer keeps playing at Basel. But we do not have inexhaustible possibilities. Maybe we can no longer keep up. Not everyone can afford a Rolls-Royce.”

Now it seems money is the least of Federer’s concerns.

Topics: 10sballs, Adrian Mannarino, Atp, Jo Wilfried Tsonga, Richard Gasquet, Roger Federer, Sports, Stanislas Wawrinka, Tennis, Tennis News, US Open, Wimbledon