The 38-year-old Roger Federer is all set to check off an additional landmark on Monday when he begins his bid for a 10th Basel title by playing the 1,500th match of his career.
Roger Federer Ready for his 1,500th match
He started his bid for his 103rd title against German qualifier Peter Gojowczyk. The 20-time Grand Slam champion has defeated the German two times, which also include the Indian Wells previous March.
Ahead of the Swiss Indoors tournament, which Federer first joined as a ballboy, he stated, “My preparation had to be a little faster than usual since I have to start Monday,”
He then further said, “I’ve already practised Friday and Saturday in Basel. I hope to really start strong and have a great indoor season.” Federer has made the Basel final on all of his previous 12 visits. he also owns ATP titles this season which was held in Dubai, Miami and Halle.
In spite of not adding to his record of majors, he still position at 47-8 for the year, a record improved only by eternal rival Rafael Nadal, whose victories at Roland Garros as well as the US Open have taken the Spaniard to 19 Grand Slams.
Federer made the final at Wimbledon in the month of July where he had two match points in advance of losing to Novak Djokovic in a five-set epic.
On Sunday, he revealed that his philosophy about those losses has turn out to be “forget them and move on”.
On the other hand, he further added, “I try to keep the highest possible level always. Sometimes it’s the opponent, sometimes it’s your own mind or game that goes off the boil.
“And, of course, you work with the right work ethic in practice, with the right concentration and everything. Only a few (matches this season) stand out to me that maybe I could have won that I didn’t.
“If I look back at my whole career I’ve had a lot of matches that I could have won that I lost. But also I won much more than I should have or could have.”
After Basel, Federer is now expected to make his standard final decision on whether to carry on for the Paris Masters, the closing Masters 1000 event of the season which begins a week on Monday.
Already, he has qualified for the ATP Finals that is going to be held in London from November 10 which is also going to be his 17th appearance at the finale of the money-spinning season.
He also said, “It’s been a solid season. It started well for me. I hope to pick it up for the year-end,” he added.
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