Roger Federer has a standing engagement in Basel every year. Not with a major sponsor or hometown family and friends, but with some very lucky ball boys and girls at the Davidoff Swiss Indoors tennis championships.
Every year since 2006, when Federer won his maiden title in Basel, the Swiss star has thrown a pizza party for the ball children at the end of the tournament, and even joined them for his victory celebration. Posing with pizza, kids, and an enormous trophy has now become a tradition for Federer, who pulled off the hat trick on Sunday by winning his third consecutive title at the event.
His opponent in the final was David Nalbandian, a player that Federer has had some trouble with, particularly indoors, in the past. But his 6-3, 6-4 victory over the Argentinean was yet another step towards redeeming a season that some considered sub-par, based on Federer’s incredibly lofty standards.
Heading into the week, it was unclear as to whether Federer would even play Basel after such an exhausting and trying season.
“Basel is my home, it's where I used to be a ball boy. I have quite a history there. I've won the last couple of titles and sure I would like to defend it,” Federer said prior to the Madrid Masters, held a week before Basel. But he did not make a firm commitment either way.
Following his 57th title victory on Sunday, Federer knew he had made the right decision.
“There are two tournaments that I always dreamed about winning as a boy -- Wimbledon and Basel. When you realize a childhood dream and realize it again and again then it's one of those places that you just want to keep winning even more at,” said Federer after the final.
Perhaps it is that connection to being a ball boy—and being an all-around nice guy—that prompted him to begin this celebratory tradition. Federer was previously a ball boy during a match in Basel for another famous Swiss, Martina Hingis.
So once again on Sunday, Federer delivered both on and off the court. With the sweet smell of victory came that of cheese and hot crust, and both Federer and the ball kids hope that this remains an open annual invitation.