There's No Place Like Home For Federer

They say there’s no place like home and Roger Federer was the latest to confirm the saying by lifting his 5th title at his hometown event in Basel on Sunday.

Federer’s season has been so poor that debates about a possible retirement have heated up recently. After he failed to win a Grand Slam for the first time since 2003 and he went titleless for 10 months, many were quick in writing him off. Contrary to claims, I don’t think his tennis is actually suffering that bad. But I do believe he lost his mental strength and with it, the invincibility halo that surrounded him while at the peak of his career. There were a handful of matches this year in which he was fully in charge, but ended up losing. In a season of firsts, he surrendered a two sets lead to be dispatched by Jo-Wilfried Tsonga in the Wimbledon quarterfinals, to follow the same scenario later at the US Open in his now infamous defeat to Djokovic in their semifinal clash.

Those two losses must have hurt badly, as the Swiss champion took a lengthy time off to heal his wounds before returning to the tour. He missed the Asian swing, thus allowing Andy Murray to pass him in the rankings, making it the first time since he rose to the top of the world in 2003 that he is positioned outside the top 3.

The ATP 500 in Basel has always been his playground though. The place possesses an emotional richness for Roger, making it one of the most important stops in his yearly calendar. However, considering all he’s been through these last couple of month, Roger did not enter his hometown event from his usual favourite’s spot, as some of the young guns, i.e. Djokovic or Murray, were threatening to steal his crown.

As the tournament unfolded, the Swiss appeard to be back to business, showing some of his imperial calm while easily defeating Italian Potito Starace and Fin Jarkko Nieminen. In the quarterfinals he faced old foe, American Andy Roddick. The duo has been up for some fierce battles in the past, with the Swiss holding a commanding 20-2 head-to-head record. Things weren't about to change this time either, as Federer cruised through an easy 6-3,6-2 win. It was a safe ride from here onwards, as neither his good friend Stan Wawrinka, nor Japanese sensation Kei Nishikori could prevent him from retaining his title to the delight of the partisan crowd.

With two events still to go in 2011, the Swiss looks to bounce back after a lousy season by claiming his first Paris Masters 1000 triumph and by successfully defending his Masters Cup trophy. Ending 2011 on a high, would give a boost to his 2012 campaign where the Olympic gold tops his ‘To do’ list.

In recent years Roger has developed the habit of celebrating his Basel success by throwing a big pizza party for the ball kids. It’s a way of inspiring his young fans of following in his footsteps. Also, it proves that the once a ball kid himself, Federer has never forgot his roots, embracing them with utmost pride.

photos: GETTY IMAGES