Roger Federer defeated Rafael Nadal 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 in the Swiss Indoors final, their first ever meeting in Switzerland, and in the Swiss’ hometown, too. The Tennis Review looks back at a win for Federer over an old foe who put him under pressure, as ever, but this time against whom Federer was able to stand up to thanks to his commitment to an aggressive game plan.
Federer knew the only way he was going to beat a resurgent Nadal was to commit to all out aggression. The Swiss went into their 34th meeting trailing 10-23, a head to head that had seen the Swiss lose many matches he should have won because of retreating to the baseline when inside the court was where the match was there to be won.
Federer started the Swiss Indoors final with the play fans hoped for, serving well, moving forward and taking Nadal on at the net whatever the Spaniard threw at him.
Federer also had an aggressive mindset on the return, too. Though his SABR was not working, the defending champion was still able to put pressure on Nadal’s serve early in the first set, and at 2-2 Federer converted his third break point, hitting big on the rise, and striking a down the line forehand winner.
Federer ran with the momentum held to 5-3, and then created another chance for himself to break. The Swiss kept up with his aggressive returns and earned himself three break points , converting the first one with another forehand winner into the open court, and taking the first set 6-3.
Another forehand winner earned Federer a 1-0 lead at the start of the second set, and with his serve, net play, and forehand all imposing his game on Nadal, the aggressive approach so vital for a win looked to be paying off.
Nadal, who called the trainer and had his much troubled tendon wrapped at 1-2, was pretty aggressive himself, far more so than he has been most of this season. The third seed faced break points at 2-3, but served his way out of trouble, and as the set went on, Nadal, who had fought back in every match on his way to the final, began to assert his own game on Federer as he hit his forehand with conviction, got the Swiss on the run, attacked the backhand, and enjoyed having a target at the net.
At 5-5, Federer serving, Nadal won a 15 stroke rally for 15-30, and the pressure began to tell on the Federer game as the Swiss missed a forehand crosscourt to go break point down. The slightest chance and Nadal took it, hitting deep and with spin to the Federer backhand and then approaching the net, his formidable self coming for his rival forcing Federer into an error.
Nadal served out to love and the match stood at a set all. Though Federer had been commited to all out attack, the very moment he slipped up, Nadal was there to take advantage, a fact that surprised no one.
Now a match that looked to have been possibly decided on the more effective strategy was going to be decided in a third set and ultimately on who was the mentally tougher on the day.
Typically in these Federer-Nadal situations, it is Nadal who emerges the stronger. But this time Federer did not shrink into his game as he has so often done, and instead he stood up to Nadal, winning his service games with imposing play and continuing to go for his shots and put pressure on Nadal’s service games, a break point at 2-1 letting Nadal know he had as much fight in him as the Spaniard.
Nadal would save it, but another would come Federer’s way at 4-3. Federer signaled his intent early on, got to 0-30, took the game to deuce, and then earned break point as his aggressive returning forced an error. Federer converted when Nadal overhit a backhand cross court, and he had the chance to serve out for the match.
A Federer ace brought him a championship point, but Nadal fought it off with a backhand passing shot winner. A couple of points later and Federer had his second chance. The Swiss served out wide and roared as Nadal’s return went out.
Federer would later call the win his best ever in Basel. That is quite some status considering he has now won 61 matches there, has seven trophies, and has beaten the likes of Djokovic before his home fans.
Deserved status though for a win that increased his indoor hard head to head over Nadal to 4-1, cut the head to head deficit to 11-23, and allowed his home fans to witness and in many ways take part in a rare big win against the man who threatens his GOAT status more than anyone else in the game.
Status that looks, as Federer claimed his sixth title of the year, aged 34 and playing the most aggressive tennis of his career,(he won 23 of 34 points at the net), pretty safe for the time being.
Commentary by Christian Deverille
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