Tennis News

No doubt about it, Roger Federer has been a game changer.

With so many players now peaking later in their careers and continuing to play their best tennis into their 30s, the 34-year-old Swiss believes it is down to a change in professionalism and attitude, sparked by his own and others’ commitment to the tour.

Speaking at the Swiss Indoors Basel on Sunday, Federer explained how the norm in tennis has shifted, with players now contesting a full calendar and allowing no let-up as the season draws to a close. The lure of the prestigious Barclays ATP World Tour Finals has players chasing points until the end in a bid to land one of the coveted eight places in London.  

Indeed, while other players are still fighting for the two remaining spots at this year’s Final Showdown, Federer is also hoping for a big finish to end the year above Andy Murray as No. 2 in the Emirates ATP Rankings.

“We were a good generation,” said World No. 3 Federer. “We were in the transition of becoming really professional, understanding that we need to change our life around to become more physical.

“The end of the season was always a grind, you just felt tired thinking about it. A lot of players would check out. I don’t feel that’s the case anymore.

“So a lot has happened and now it will be interesting to see the next two-three years. I think there’s a good wave of players coming through and that will be a true test for our generation to see how we’re going to handle it.”

Federer is preparing to make his 16^th appearance at his hometown tournament in Basel. The right-hander has a 56-9 record at the ATP World Tour 500 indoor hard court tournament, lifting the trophy six times, most recently triumphing last year with victory over David Goffin.

Casting his mind back to his first appearance in 1998, when he lost in the first round to Andre Agassi, Federer reminisced about a vast change in expectations over the course of the past 18 years.

“[At first], let’s say winning maybe five or six games in the first round was going to be a good result,” said Federer. “Then it was maybe if you win a set, it would be great. Winning a round would be great. Next thing you know, I was defending titles. It would be nice [to do that] again. That’s changed obviously a lot in the approach and with experience, I’m less nervous and less anxious.

“I still enjoy it as much as ever. It’s true that the routines now are easier. I know how to handle ticketing. I know how to handle having friends here and family. In the beginning there was just so much going on that it was kind of crazy, but in a good way. I remember I was always very nervous on court because I always wanted to do so well here.

“I grew up here. I played soccer just behind the stadium. I came here on my bike as a ball boy. It feels like it was yesterday. This is what makes the tournament so special.”

Federer is due to open his bid against Mikhail Kukushkin, whom he leads 2-0 in their FedEx ATP Head2Head series. The Basel native is looking claim his 1050^th match win and is chasing his sixth ATP World Tour title of the season this week.

Top seed Tomas Berdych stretched his winning streak to 12 matches with his third If Stockholm Open title by virtue of a 7-6(1), 6-2 victory over Jack Sock. The Czech, who has already qualified for the Barclay ATP World Tour Finals in London in November, won the ATP World Tour 250 tournament without dropping a set and improved his career record in finals to 12-17.

“I’ve definitely built up a good history here, which always helps,” noted Berdych. “The tournament does a really good job taking care of us, making us feel at home. Sometimes you find a place in the world that suits you well, and it’s the case here. I’m glad to be able to add to my titles here.”

It was Berdych’s second title of the year, after winning Shenzhen earlier this month (d. Garcia-Lopez). He earned 250 Emirates ATP Rankings points and €97,700, while Sock took home 150 points and €51,450.

The 23-year-old Sock, who will play for the Stockholm doubles title later on Sunday, was attempting to become the first American man since Andy Roddick (2008 Beijing) to win an ATP World Tour singles title after the US Open. This week, he and Steve Johnson became the first Americans since Donald Young (2011 Bangkok) to reach a singles final after the fourth Grand Slam event of the season. Despite saving 77 per cent (24/31) of break points faced coming into the final, Sock only saved one of four break points against Berdych in the final.

“[Sock] is doing the right things,” said Berdych of his opponent. “He has already had some great results in doubles, which will help him gain experience and improve in singles. He can absolutely be a very dangerous player.”

An early hiccup from Berdych saw the American earn the first break of serve, but the 6’5” Czech broke back when Sock served for the opening set at 5-4. Berdych made the most of his first-strike style thereafter, dominating the tie-break and winning the second set without facing a break point. He finished with nine aces and won 90 per cent of first service points during the 84-minute match.

“I found a way to deal with a tough situation in the first set,” said Berdych. “Afterwards I was able to find my game and get better and better.”

First-time pairing Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo fought back on Sunday to capture the Erste Bank Open title. Kubot and Melo recovered from a set an 2-4 deficit to beat second seeds Jamie Murray and John Peers 4-6, 7-6(3), 10-6 in the Vienna final, which lasted one hour and 33 minutes.

Kubot and Melo earned 500 Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings points and shared €125,000 in prize money. Melo and his regular partner, Ivan Dodig, have already qualified for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals, to be held at The O2 in London from 15-22 November. Kubot lifted the 2009 Vienna title with Oliver Marach.

“It’s an amazing feeling, following surgery in May and the decision to focus solely on doubles,” said Kubot. “I couldn’t find a permanent partner this year, after I came back, so I am very happy to have won one of my favourite tournaments. I’m glad they got [ATP World Tour] 500-level status, because they really do deserve it as an indoor tournament. It’s my fourth title of the year, with my fourth different partner on four different surfaces. I am very happy to have played with Marcelo, maintaining his momentum. Our opponents had everything under control, but we took our chances and won the last point.”

Murray and Peers broke in the third game of the 33-minute opener, and looked to be on course to capture their seventh ATP World Tour team title when they lead 4-2 in the second set. But Kubot and Melo broke in the eighth game and clinched the first three points in the tie-break.

Kubot is now 13-7 in title matches, including his fourth crown of 2015 with as many partners. Melo, now 18-18 overall in finals, is projected to pass Bob Bryan and Mike Bryan at No. 1 in the Emirates ATP Doubles Rankings on 2 November. He will be the first No. 1 other than the American twins since Max Mirnyi and Daniel Nestor in the week of 3 September 2012.

“I’m living the dream, playing three tournaments – winning 500, 1000 and 500 [Emirates ATP Rankings] points again,” Melo told ATPWorldTour.com. “There was a lot of pressure on my shoulders to become No. 1, this is a tough achievement. I am a really lucky guy to [soon-to-be] No. 1 with the Bryans still around.”

Murray and Peers, who have qualified for the season finale in the English capital, are now 6-9 in finals (2-5 in 2015). They finished runners up at Wimbledon (l. to Rojer/Tecau) and the US Open (l. to Herbert/Mahut). Murray is now 13-14 overall in championship matches, while Peers is 6-9.

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In 2014, David Ferrer‘s quest to qualify for the Barclays ATP World Tour Finals took a hit with a three-set defeat to Andy Murray in the final of the Erste Bank Open. The Spaniard is hoping for a reversal of fortunes on Sunday in Vienna.

Ferrer downed Gael Monfils 7-6(5), 7-5 in Saturday’s semi-finals, denying all six break points faced during the two-hour and one-minute affair. Currently at No. 8 in the Emirates ATP Race To London, Ferrer will be looking to cement his position among the elite eight as he bids for a 26th title in his 51st tour-level final.

Ferrer crashed the net early and often against Monfils, winning 15 of 19 such points. After converting on his fourth set point to take the opener in a tie-break, he broke to love for 6-5 in the second set and served out the match a game later. The Spaniard has turned around their FedEx ATP Head2Head series, having dropped the first three meetings against Monfils, before reeling off three straight without dropping a set.

“It was a tough match,” said Ferrer. “It was my best match this week. I’m very glad because I am in the final.

“To beat him, I have to play my best tennis. Today, I served well and my forehand worked very nicely. It’s one of the best seasons of my career and tomorrow I will fight for another title.”

Opposing Ferrer in Sunday’s Vienna final will be Steve Johnson, who advanced to his first ATP World Tour title match with a 6-3, 7-6(4) win over Ernests Gulbis. Johnson needed 91 minutes to seal the victory, firing 12 aces and converting on two of four break opportunities.

The former two-time NCAA champion at the University of Southern California is the first American to reach the final of an ATP World Tour 500 event since John Isner finished runner-up to Juan Martin del Potro in Washington 2013. With Jack Sock advancing to the final in Stockholm as well this week, it also marks the first time two Americans have reached two different ATP World Tour finals in the same week since 2008, when Sam Querrey and Andy Roddick hoisted the trophies in Las Vegas and Dubai, respectively.

“It feels great,” said Johnson, who is the first player from the U.S. to reach the Vienna final since 1998, when Pete Sampras won the title. “Hopefully I can get one more win on Sunday. I’m just very excited to be in my first final. I served well in the first set and served well in the second.”

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