Federer v Del Potro In Basel Final; Tsonga v Pouille In Vienna
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Two former champions meet in the Basel final Sunday. Home favorite and 7-time winner Roger Federer meets 2-time champ Juan Martin del Potro in a dream matchup.
Federer flew past David Goffin 6-1, 6-2 to advance to his 13th career final in Basel.
Federer will seek a 95th career title which would put him alone in second place on the Open Era list. But del Potro comes into the final off an eighth straight win after dismissing Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-4.
“I played a good match, but always to beat Cilic you must play at a high level,” del Potro said. “I’m happy that I did well and reached another final here in Basel.”
The win also elevated the Argentine’s hopes for London next month.
Federer leads del Potro 17-6 in their series but the Swiss fell in the US Open quarterfinals.
“I’m ready for a difficult match and a fully fit del Potro,” said Federer. “He played a great match against me in Shanghai and went on to win Stockholm and won that. Now he’s here in the final again. I think he’s ok. He might be tired, but he doesn’t have issues that would keep him away from the court.”
Del Potro does hold a 3-1 edge in finals including 2 three-set Basel finals in 2012-13.
“For me it’s going to be a great challenge and also a great pleasure to play against Roger again in his hometown,” said del Potro who is 18-3 since the start of the US Open. “It will be a great atmosphere, and I will enjoy it a lot.”
In Vienna, a Frenchmen will take the title. Jo-Wilfried Tsonga will take on Lucas Pouille. Tsonga has won his last eight after defeating Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6(4), 7-5. Pouille beat Kyle Edmund in three sets 6-7(7), 6-4, 6-3.
“I’m playing well. I’m playing good tennis,” Tsonga said. “Truly happy with my level this week…tomorrow it’s the final and only the winner counts so I will give my best to be the winner.
“It’s going to be special, because he’s the new generation. I will not say I’m the old one, but I’m the older generation,” Tsonga joked. “It’s going to be a good match.”
Tsonga’s late season surge has put him in the London hunt.
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