Basel: Roger Federer has claimed his 99th career title with victory over Marius Copil in Basel.
The 37-year-old delighted the home support to land his ninth Swiss Indoors title, winning 7-6 (7-5), 6-4.
Roger Federer claims the spoils of victory at the Swiss Indoors in Basel.Credit:AP
The world No.3 was a break down in both sets against the Romanian qualifier who set up the match by upsetting second seed Alexander Zverev in the last four.
However, Federer rallied to maintain his four-year unbeaten run in the tournament in his home city, claiming victory in an hour and 33 minutes.
The title is Federer's first in more than four months since winning on grass at Stuttgart in June.
"It's been a magical week. It was dream run for me," Federer said in his acceptance speech, before his fans' ovation brought tears welling in his eyes.
Federer's 151st singles final on the ATP tour shaped as one of his biggest mismatches by ranking. He has never lost a final to an opponent ranked below No. 87.
His ninth title at his hometown event, where he was once a ball boy, has now matched the nine he won at the Halle grasscourt event in Germany.
He closed the gap on the all-time singles titles list to Jimmy Connors, who leads with 109.
It was also a great week for Copil, currently ranked No. 93, who is in line to rise above his career-best ranking of No. 73 when the new list is published on Monday.
"I came through qualifying and I didn't know what to expect but here I am," said the 28-year-old Copil.
"Hopefully now I can push my career up with a new place in the rankings."
Meanwhile, South African Kevin Anderson has secured his spot at next month's season-ending ATP Finals by beating Japan's Kei Nishikori 6-3, 7-6 (7-3) to win the Vienna Open.
The world No.8 sent down 13 aces and 36 winners, winning 91 per cent of his first-serve points as he wrapped up victory in just under two hours.
The 32-year-old is the first South African to reach the ATP Finals in 23 years and follows in the footsteps of compatriot Wayne Ferreira who achieved the feat in 1995.
Anderson joins Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Juan Martin del Potro, Federer and Zverev in sealing his spot at the season finale, which run from November 11-18 at London's O2 Arena.
His qualification means there are two places still up for grabs ahead of the Paris Masters, with Croatian Marin Cilic, Austrian Dominic Thiem, Nishikori and American John Isner still in the race.
Kevin Anderson on the way to victory against Kei Nishikori.Credit:AP
"I want to congratulate Kei on a great week," Anderson said on court after receiving the trophy. "You've been a world-class player year-in and year-out so best of luck for the rest of the year."
Anderson was runner-up to Djokovic at Wimbledon this year but the win in Vienna represented the biggest title of his career.
The defeat was Nishikori's ninth straight loss in a final and ended his hopes of a first title since his victory in Memphis in 2016.
He fought gamely but was unable to make any inroads against Anderson's booming serve, carving out two break points the entire match both of which the South African saved.
The Japanese's efforts were further undermined by 23 unforced errors and three double faults and though he improved enough to force a second set tiebreak, Anderson held his nerve and sealed the win with an ace.
PA, Reuters
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