Novak Djokovic overcame Roger Federer on the world No. 1’s home ground on Sunday, carving out a 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 victory to win the Swiss Indoors title.
It was a Basel debut to remember for the 22-year-old world No. 3 as he turned the momentum in his direction in a 24-minute game of the opening set that featured five break points for Federer and required six set points for the Serb to take the early lead.
Federer, the winner of the last three titles in the tournament, got back in harness in the second set through an early break on the way to leveling the final, but when Djokovic got up a double break in the third, the Swiss top seed was unable to turn the tide.
PHOTO: AFP
It was Federer’s first loss at home in Basel since the second round in 2003. When he returned in 2006, he claimed three trophies in a row until Djokovic ended that run in a two-hour upset. Djokovic won his fifth of 14 career matches the Swiss.
Federer and Djokovic will play the Paris Masters this week, the final event of the ATP regular season. They have both already qualified for the season-ending World Tour Finals in London beginning on Nov. 22.
■VALENCIA OPEN
AFP, VALENCIA, SPAIN
British top seed Andy Murray defeated Russia’s Mikhail Youzhny 6-3, 6-2 on Sunday to win the Valencia ATP title and capture his sixth trophy of the season.
The world No. 4, playing his first tournament following a six-week break to rest a wrist injury, took just 69 minutes to see off the unseeded Russian and wrap-up the 14th title of his career.
Murray broke Youzhny’s serve twice in the first set, despite being broken in the seventh game. In the second set, Murray didn’t give Youzhny an opportunity to bounce back as he raced into a 4-0 lead after 18 minutes.
Youzhny, who knocked out second-seeded compatriot Nikolay Davydenko in the semi-finals, was unable to halt the Murray charge as the Scot improved to a 63-9 match record on the season.
This year, Murray has also won titles in Doha, Rotterdam, Miami, Queen’s Club and Montreal.
He now heads for the Paris Masters before taking part in the season-ending ATP World Tour Finals in London.
“It was a very, very good week,” Murray said. “It is very rare for someone to win a tournament after a long break. I was happy I have come back from the injury well and played better with every match. I didn’t have high expectations this week, but with every round and match you get more confident. I felt good with the way I was hitting the ball.”
■PARIS MASTERS
AP, PARIS
James Blake of the US beat French veteran Fabrice Santoro 6-4, 6-3 in the first round of the Paris Masters on Sunday.
The 36-year-old Santoro, who is playing in his final season on the ATP tour, swapped jerseys with Blake after the match and did a lap of honor to warm applause from the crowd at Bercy indoor arena.
Blake broke Santoro’s serve twice in each set and next was set to play fourth-seeded Andy Murray of Britain.
Benjamin Becker of Germany rallied from a set down to beat Michael Llodra of France 3-6, 6-2, 6-3 and he was to meet No. 6 Nikolay Davydenko of Russia.
Becker converted all three of his chances to break Llodra’s serve and saved both break points he faced in the second set and another one in the decider. Both players had nine aces.
■FED CUP
REUTERS, REGGIO CALABRIA, ITALY
World No. 11 Flavia Pennetta was looking forward to a holiday after leading Italy to victory in the Fed Cup tennis final on Sunday.
The 27-year-old, who has been recovering from a knee injury, set up a 4-0 victory over the US when she beat Melanie Oudin 7-5 6-2 in the third singles rubber.
Pennetta has had a busy year. In August she became the only Italian female to have made the top 10 before slipping to 11th. She was also part of the team that stunned holders Russia in a Fed Cup semi-final in April.
Pennetta gave the hosts a strong start on Saturday when she overpowered 20-year-old Alexa Glatch 6-3, 6-1 before teammate Francesca Schiavone beat Oudin.
Pennetta’s participation had been in doubt after she retired with a knee injury at last month’s Kremlin Cup in Moscow.
“It’s a very nice feeling,” Pennetta said.
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