RICKY DIMON PICKS FOR THE ROGER FEDERER, RAFAEL NADAL MATCH UP IN BASEL FOR THE SWISS INDOORS CHAMPIONSHIPS. TRICK OR TREAT? TREAT!! BIG TREAT!

Written by: Staff on 31st October 2015

RICKY DIMON PICKS FOR THE ROGER FEDERER, RAFAEL NADAL MATCH UP IN BASEL FOR THE SWISS INDOORS CHAMPIONSHIPS. TRICK OR TREAT? TREAT!! BIG TREAT!

epa05005048 Switzerland's Roger Federer in action against USA's Jack Sock during their semi final match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 31 October 2015. EPA/DOMINIC STEINMANN |

Roger Federer, Rafa Nadal Both Win Their Semifinal Matches To Renew Rivalry In Basel (Finally !)

By Ricky Dimon

It will be Roger Federer vs. Rafael Nadal for the Swiss Indoors Basel title on Sunday afternoon. Federer and Nadal made a Treat! The highly-anticipated title tilt a reality by winning their respective semifinals on Saturday.

Federer improved to 60-9 lifetime in Basel after breaking Sock three times in nine return games en route to a 6-3, 6-4 victory in one hour and three minutes. The 34-year-old Swiss also served at 70 percent and won 87 percent of his first-serve points. He has now reached the final of this event in 10 consecutive appearances.

Nadal prevailed in straight sets for the first time this week, beating Richard Gasquet 6-4, 7-6(7).

It is not every day that the tennis world witnesses Federer and Nadal square off at a 500-point event. In fact, the last time Federer and Nadal faced each other at a tournament of this level was way back in 2006 in the Dubai title match. That remains their only previous encounter to date outside of a Grand Slam, Masters 1000, or year-end championship.

Heading into Sunday’s showdown, the overall head-to-head series stands at 23-10 in favor of Nadal. The Spaniard has won five in a row dating back to the start of the 2013 season. Federer’s last victory over his nemesis came in 2012 Indian Wells semifinals via a 6-3, 6-4 decision. Even on hard courts, Nadal is 9-6 lifetime against the Swiss and he has won their last four such meetings. Federer does, however, have one edge in their past history: he is 4-1 at Nadal’s expense on indoor hard courts.

The 17-time major champion not only has the benefit of playing indoors for this one, but also at home in the friendly confines of Switzerland. He has captured the Basel title six times. Federer preceded his win over Sock by taking out Mikhail Kukushkin, Philipp Kohlschreiber, and David Goffin–surrendering sets to Kohlschreiber and Goffin along the way.

Spain’s Rafael Nadal in action against France’s Richard Gasquet during their semi final match at the Swiss Indoors tennis tournament at the St. Jakobshalle in Basel, Switzerland, 31 October 2015. EPA/GEORGIOS KEFALAS

Nadal has gone the distance three times already this week. Before beating Gasquet, the third seed outlasted Lukas Rosol, Grigor Dimitrov, and Marin Cilic.

“It’s been a very special week for me,” said Nadal, who added that he felt good after a brief knee-injury scare at 3-1 in the opening set on Saturday.

Nearing the end of what has been a disappointing year by his standards, the former world No. 1 is suddenly picking up the pace during what is traditionally by far his worst stretch of any season. He reached the Beijing final and the Shanghai semis prior to this impressive Basel performance. Since blowing a two-set lead against Fabio Fognini at the U.S. Open, Nadal boasts a 12-2 record.

“It’s definitely a bit of a dream final,” Federer assured. “It’s never quite happened (in Basel). That it’s me against Rafa towards the back end of our careers is nice for the tournament, great for the Swiss fans–who’ve never seen this matchup on Swiss grounds.”

“I have played against Roger hundreds of times around the world,” Nadal commented. “I never played at his home (Switzerland), and tomorrow is a chance.”

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: Atp World Tour, Basel tennis, Nadal vs Federer, Rafael Nadal, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Sports, Swiss Indoors final, Tennis News, Tennis Rivalry

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10sBalls_com says:

October 31, 2015 at 5:02 pm

-@Dimonator Picks For The #FedererVsNadal Match Up In #Basel For The #SwissIndoors. Trick Or Treat? Big Treat! https://t.co/7FHrpGO0kB
Dimonator says:

October 31, 2015 at 5:04 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: -@Dimonator Picks For The #FedererVsNadal Match Up In #Basel For The #SwissIndoors. Trick Or Treat? Big Treat! https://t.…
namabodadeva says:

October 31, 2015 at 6:21 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: -@Dimonator Picks For The #FedererVsNadal Match Up In #Basel For The #SwissIndoors. Trick Or Treat? Big Treat! https://t.…
nujakajyzav says:

October 31, 2015 at 7:18 pm

RT @10sBalls_com: -@Dimonator Picks For The #FedererVsNadal Match Up In #Basel For The #SwissIndoors. Trick Or Treat? Big Treat! https://t.…