Federer Rolls Into Basel Final, Seeks 99th Career Title Against Qualifier Copil
Roger Federer rolled into his 14th career final at his home Basel event, crushing rising Russian Daniil Medvedev 6-1, 6-4 in only 65 minutes.
“I’m very happy. I think it was my best performance this week,” Federer said. “I’m starting to really get to understand the conditions and it was consistent, my most consistent match by far. The results show it as well, so I’m very happy.”
Federer needed a tough three sets in Shanghai just a few weeks ago. Indoors today, it was a different story.
“I don’t think Daniil maybe played as well as then,” he said. “Conditions are different, maybe also his legs were a little bit heavy. He’s played a lot of tennis the past few weeks, so I understand,” Federer said. “For me, it goes on. I’m really super-excited to be in another final here in Basel and I hope I can defend my title tomorrow.”
Federer, who has won 8 Basel titles and his last 19 matches at the event, will now face surprising qualifier Marius Copil after the Romanian stunned No. 2 seed Alexander Zverev.
“I watched some against Cilic, he played great. Saw some against Zverev, he played great, too. He plays Federer, he plays great? I’m not sure. But anyway, I’m excited,” Federer said. “He played a great match against Zverev. He served great when he needed to and then he had good variation from the baseline.”
Copil shocked Zverev 6-3, 6-7(6), 6-4 to reach his second career final after Sofia. The German Zverev has just one final since the start of the French – a title at the Washington event.
“It’s been an unbelievable week for me so far,” Copil said. “Before coming here, I was fighting and struggling to have the points to finish Top 100, and that was in my mind. I was trying to win one or two matches here just to stay there. But now being in the final, it’s an unbelievable achievement for me.”
Federer also bids for his 99th career title, while for Copil will seek his first and at a ranking of No. 93, he’ll try to become the lowest ranked player to ever beat the Swiss in a final.
In the Vienna final, former US Open finalists Kevin Anderson and Kei Nishikori collide. Anderson knocked out Fernando Verdasco in three sets while Nishikori cruised past Mikhail Kukushkin.
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