Say Swiss Cheese!

Basel, October 28

Roger Federer clinched a record-extending 10th Swiss Indoors championship title in his hometown with a crushing 6-2 6-2 victory over Australia’s Alex de Minaur on Sunday. The 38-year-old Swiss has now won 103 singles titles in his career and the record win in Basel — where he once acted as a ball boy — was the second time he had won a tournament 10 times after achieving the feat in Halle in June.

Federer converted four of 10 break points and did not drop serve to wrap up the match in 68 minutes for his fourth title of the year after wins in Dubai, Miami and Halle. “It was fast but very nice, I think I played a great match,” an emotional Federer said after lifting the trophy. “I thought Alex played a great tournament as well, and I think we both can be very happy. But what a moment for me to win my 10th here in my hometown of Basel.” 

Federer withdraws from Paris Masters

World No. 3 Federer has withdrawn from this week’s Paris Masters as he fine-tunes his schedule heading into the season-ending ATP Finals. Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal, Daniil Medvedev, Dominic Thiem and Stefanos Tsitsipas have booked their places for next month’s ATP Finals, with two spots up for grabs.

Svitolina, Halep start with wins in WTA Finals

Shenzhen (China): Defending champion Elina Svitolina continued her dominance over world No. 2 Karolina Pliskova with a straight-set victory at the WTA Finals here today. The eighth seed won 7-6(12) 6-4. It was Svitolina’s fourth straight victory over a misfiring Pliskova, who had 42 unforced errors. 

Wimbledon champion Simona Halep saved a match point in the second set and then powered to a rousing comeback victory over Canadian sensation Bianca Andreescu. The fifth seed prevailed 3-6 7-6(6) 6-3. — Agencies