Roger Federer Wins Basel 2011: Is the Swiss Indoors His New Wimbledon?

There were several things running for Roger Federer coming into the Basel final against Kei Nishikori. One was the sheer need to win a second title in 2011, which would quench a drought he had not seen the likes of since 2002. Nishikori had done him a grand favour, of sorts, in beating Novak Djokovic in the semifinals.

The second thing was that records side of things—that constantly attendant factor in any of Federer's matches. History, as it has for practically every occasion in the last few years, beckoned once again to be made anew, for Federer could add a fourth tournament to the other three at which he had five-peated; Wimbledon, the US Open and Halle. It was, moreover, his 8th final overall at Basel, a number he has not reached at any other tournament.

It may have been his eighth time at the final Sunday at Basel, but he sure played like it was his first. That is the mighty beauty of Federer, who looks, almost uniquely, at every opportunity as potentially his last, and one to be cherished for the moment that it is. His 6-1, 6-3 demolition of Nishikori needs little elaboration, suffice to say that it was a return of the Federer from a long time ago. He had fearsome, ferocious forehands, struck with little mercy and serves that were, for the most, part untouchable.

Nishikori made a great job of things, and played tough and aggressively, when he needed to. He played to Federer's backhand, and dared on several occasions, often returning not unscathed, to draw the Swiss wide on his forehand side. But Federer was simply sublime. In the last few games of the match one could sense a tightening of the air, as the decisive moment seemed imminent.

Nishikori played his best point of the match at deuce on Federer's serve at 5-3, playing aggressively, purposefully, and defiantly. Was the first man in Asia going to contrive yet another come-from-behind victory? Alas, a sneaky Federer slice drew him in, and the master passed him which a blitzing forehand inside-in. As much a statement as one might find of the veteran champion nowadays, that was it—a classic stroke of brilliance from bygone days, against a man of the future.

The ensuing match point was merely routine. A dominant run of forehands had Nishikori scrambling, to offer but one last feeble lob. Federer knew he had it, and took it; smashing the final ball of the tournament for his fifth title at the Basel Swiss Indoors.

Something about it was reminiscent of another smash-ending tournament win—his at Wimbledon in 2007, when he won his fifth straight title at the All-England Club. To draw similarities however, only from the last point, would be frivolous.

What Basel 2011 for Federer seems indicative of, is the relative dominance that he can still exert over the tennis world. True, he is only the lowest ranked in the elite top four of men's tennis, but what this week has told us, if anything, is that Federer, at his very best, is still pretty much the same player he was in 2006.

He played against Roddick like it was 2005, and Wawrinka, like a tough, albeit not insurmountable outing one day in his dominance of old. Against Nishikori, he was simply ruthless. Truly, there were the signs of the mental fatigue, with his missing shots he oughtn't have but, by and large the hunger and the voracious desire were still there.

He has loved Wimbledon, and as a six time champion there, will always have a place in his heart for it. But it would be something even more for a place like Basel, his hometown, where tennis had begun seriously for him, and where his dreams had first been forged. Winning here, for all the ATP 500 status it might have, meant all the world to him. That would explain the tears, and the joy, at the trophy ceremony.

The Basel trophy might have reminded Federer of the one at Wimbledon. Whether it did though is irrelevant. As long as he should know that there is a place such as this, that he can truly call tennis home on the ATP tour, Roger Federer will always be the man he is.