Federer fires past de Minaur to capture 10th Basel crown

Roger Federer was dialed in from start to finish in the final of the Swiss Indoors Basel on Sunday, racing past Alex de Minaur, 6-2, 6-2, to win his hometown event for the 10th time in his career.

The Swiss added the 2019 trophy to his previous triumphs in 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018.

"What a moment for me to win my 10th title in Basel," said Federer, who's now won the tournament the last five times he's played it - he missed the 2016 event with a knee injury. "I've had a lot of wins the last few times I've played here, and I can't wait to lift this trophy again.

"Good times right now. I couldn't be happier."

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It looked like it could be a long day at the office for Federer early on, as he battled to a six-minute, three-deuce hold in the first game of the match. But he would hold his next service game at love and then break for 3-1, and he took it to another level entirely from 4-2, reeling off five games in a row to build a 6-2, 3-0 lead.

De Minaur very nearly got himself back in the match a few games later, fighting off a break point to hold for 2-4 and then getting to 0-30 in Federer's subsequent service game, but the Swiss held and then broke one last time to close it out after just 68 minutes.

Federer finished the match with twice as many winners as unforced errors, 24 to 12.

"It was fast but very nice," Federer said. "I think I played a great match. It was a tough opening set - it was a long first five games. But I was serving well and just tried to stay on offense, and I'm really happy with the way things went today.

"Alex had a really great week, too, so I think we both have a lot to be proud of right now."

Federer now has four ATP titles this year, having already won Dubai, Miami and Halle, and 103 ATP titles in his career, one step closer to Jimmy Connors' record of 109.

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Basel is the second ATP event Federer's won 10 times - he's also won the grass court event in Halle 10 times in his career. Rafael Nadal is the only other man in the Open Era to win the same ATP event 10 or more times - the Spaniard has done that at Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Roland Garros.

De Minaur had a big week, too. Not only did he reach the equal-biggest final of his career, having made the final of another 500-level event in Washington DC last year, but by reaching the final in Basel the Australian will break into the Top 20 for the first time on Monday.