Roger Federer demolished starstruck Kei Nishikori in the final of his home town tournament to win the Swiss Indoors title for the fifth time in six years on Sunday.
Federer, appearing in his 98th ATP final of which he has won 68, triumphed 6-1, 6-3 against the 21-year-old Japanese wild card, who was playing the record 16-time Grand Slam champion for the first time.
Nishikori took only six points off Federer’s serve and had to wait until the final game before managing a break point.
Photo: AFP
“It was a dream come true. He has always been my idol. It was a great experience for me. I am looking forward to playing against him again,” said Nishikori, who trained with Federer five years ago.
Federer, 30, was playing his first tournament since the US Open and said he had made the right decision to skip a tournament in Shanghai even if it meant disappointing his Chinese fans.
“I’m at a different point in my career to the younger guys, I have to focus on what’s better for my body, my mind, my family and I think it was the right decision,” Federer said.
Federer, who completed his third match without dropping a set following wins over Andy Roddick and Stanislas Wawrinka, clinched his second title of the year and his first since Doha in January.
Nishikori held serve in the opening game, but the dominant Swiss rattled off the next seven as he totally dominated proceedings against the world No. 32.
Nishikori put up more resistance in the second set, saving two break points as held serve in the second game to at least end Federer’s run.
However, it was only a matter of time and Federer broke in the sixth game. Nishikori defiantly saved four break points, but could do nothing about a perfect Federer lob which left him stranded on the fifth.
The Japanese had his only break point in the ninth game, but Federer saved it and went on to finish off the match with a forehand smash.
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