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Basel: Local tennis ace Roger Federer on Sunday pocketed the Swiss Indoors Basel title, beating arch-rival and Spanish star Rafael Nadal in a three setter that lasted a little over two hours.
The 34-year-old won the final duel 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 at the St. Jakobshalle here.
With the trophy, Federer ended a 21 month wait against Nadal, who has had an upper hand on the Swiss since the 2012 BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells.
Competing in a record 12th final on home soil in Basel, he added a seventh trophy, a feat he has also achieved at four other tournaments in his career (Wimbledon, Halle, Dubai, Cincinnati).
In the first set, Federer and Nadal ran neck to neck locked at 2-2. But then the Swiss ace utilized the fast indoor conditions to his advantage opening up the court. He then came up with one of the shots of the tournament to find a terrific winner with a lunge from well behind the baseline.
A few points later Federer clinched the first set 6-3.
In the second set, Federer looked all set to clinch the contest with momentum on his side, but Nadal would not yield an inch, and came back in the set to win it 7-5.
In the decider, Federer was untouchable. With some beautiful forehands and drop shots he had Nadal in trouble almost always.
Though the Spaniard pushed hard it was proving impossible to have answers to the shots that Federer belted in the court.
The 17 Grand slam winner then bagged the last set 6-3 to close a 2 hours, 2 minute and 59 second contenst and deny Nadal his seventh Basel crown.
