The draw at the Swiss Indoors Basel was a good one for superstar Roger Federer. The top seed caught a supposedly easy start on the way to defending the title.
Mission: Defending title and title number nine. At least that’s how Roger Federer imagines it at his home tournament in Basel.
It is also clear that all eyes around the Swiss Indoors Basel will be on the local hero. He is the superstar in Basel and yet the “boy” of his time. In front of the Swiss fans, Federer will start the tournament against Filip Krajinovic. A feasible task for the record winner.
Federer played against the Serb once so far and had no problems with a clear 6:2 and 6:1 in Indian Wells this spring. Should Federer celebrate a victorious start, the 37-year-old will have the chance to take his personal US Open revenge.
Federer’s part-time training partner John Millman finished the tournament in New Yoerk for Federer in the round of 16 and disillusioned the “Fedex” camp. Now Millman meets Jan-Lennard-Struff in the first lap and would have Federer in front of his chest if he won again.
In addition to Federer’s presence, a first-round duel is a real hit. Number three seeded Marin Cilic meets the Canadian wonder weapon Denis Shapovalov. The spectators can look forward to thunderous basic blows and a hard exchange of blows.
Alexander Zverev, number two on the seed list, will start the tournament in Basel against Dutchman Robin Haase. Buddy Stefanos Tsitsipas will have to take on France’s Jeremy Chardy for the first time in the generation duel.
[1]Roger Federer (SUI) vs. Filip Krajinovic (SRB)Jan-Lennard Struff (GER) vs John Millman (AUS)Leonardo Mayer (ARG) vs Gilles Simon (FRA)[5/WC]Jack Sock (USA) vs [SE]Ernests Gulbis (LAT)[4]Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) vs Jeremy Chardy (FRA)Peter Gojowczyk (GER) vs Nicolas Jarry (CHI)Andreas Seppi (ITA) vs Qualifier[7]Daniil Medvedev (RUS) vs Maximilian Marterer (GER)[6]Marco Cecchinato (ITA) vs [WC]Henri Laaksonen (SUI)[WC]Taylor Fritz (USA) vs QualifierRyan Harrison (USA) vs Qualifier[3]Marin Cilic (CRO) vs Denis Shapovalov (CAN)[8]Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP) vs Joao Sousa (POR)Stan Wawrinka (SUI) vs Adrian Mannarino (FRA)Matthew Ebden (AUS) vs Qualifier[2]Alexander Zverev (GER) vs Robin Haase (NED)