The 2016 edition of the Swiss Indoor Championships marks the chance for Roger Federer’s hometown of Basel to host its ATP Tour stop once again. Federer isn’t merely Swiss; he grew up in Basel, making this the most important non-Grand Slam, non-Masters tournament on his calendar. This year, of course, he is out with an injury, and the man he defeated in last year’s final, Rafael Nadal, has also shut himself down for the rest of the year with injury concerns. It’s going to be a different tournament. There will be a different champion and a different runner-up finisher.
The competition in the 32-player main draw begins on Monday, October 24.
Event Details
Event: Swiss Indoor Championships
Category: ATP World Tour – 500 Series
Date: October 24-30, 2016
Location: St. Jakobshalle – Basel, Switzerland
With a prize money allotment of just over 2.2 million Euros, the 500-point tournament is more lucrative than the competing ATP 500 event in Vienna. Roger Federer – by playing in the event and then making the final on a relentlessly regular basis – has helped boost the popularity and hence the prize money of this event.
The points structure under the ATP system is that the championship means 500 points. A second-place result would produce 300. Players who get to the semifinals will earn 180 points while a quarterfinal appearance offers up 90 points to those who get there. A round-of-16 results provides 45 points.
Former Champions and Results (5 Years)
Year Champion Runner-up Score
2015: Roger Federer def. Rafael Nadal 6-3, 5-7, 6-3
2014: Roger Federer def. David Goffin 6-2, 6-2
2013: Juan Martin del Potro def. Roger Federer 7-6(3), 2-6, 6-4
2012: Juan Martin del Potro def. Roger Federer 6-4, 6-7(5-7), 7-6(3)
2011: Roger Federer def. Kei Nishikori 6-1, 6-3
Player Info:
Stan Wawrinka doesn’t particularly enjoy playing in Basel. The ball stays low and the conditions are super fast. It robs Wawrinka the time to set up his backhand. Last year, he was a set and a break up against Ivo Karlovic but couldn’t close him out, eventually losing to him in three-sets. Wawrinka has made couple of semifinals in Basel but embarrassingly has lost eight first round matches in 12 appearances. However, Wawrinka doesn’t have to worry about Roger Federer this time, who beat him here in the semifinals in 2011. He also doesn’t have to concern himself with Rafael Nadal, a finalist last year. Wawrinka’s main rival at this tournament is himself. Wawrinka’s loss to Gilles Simon in Shanghai suggested how tough it is for him to deliver big results on a consistent basis. He may be the No. 1 seed but it would still be a surprise if he wins it all.
Milos Raonic has already qualified for the World Tour Finals in London. Now, he can be relaxed and prepare himself for the assault on the field in Basel. Raonic hasn’t found his A game since reaching the Wimbledon finals but fast hard courts are just what he needs to get his groove back. The indoor conditions are tailor-made for someone like Raonic, whose lethal serve-forehand or perhaps even deadlier serve and volley combo will make him unplayable. The Canadian is still searching for form but he has all the ingredients it takes to win in Basel.
Marin Cilic won his first Masters title in Cincinnati and narrowly lost the Wimbeldon quarterfinal to Roger Federer. That apart, he has had a torrid time on the tour. Cilic was sent packing in straight sets by Jack Sock in New York at the U.S. Open and was convincingly beaten by Sascha Zverev in the first round of the Shanghai Masters. In between those heavy defeats, he was instrumental in pushing Croatia to the Davis Cup final, his other main achievement of the year. Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal slightly opened a window of opportunity for the ATP World Tour Finals, but at this point of time it’s difficult to contemplate what is Cilic’s top priority. Cilic desperately needs a title if he yearns to keep his London dream alive. He decided to skip the Kremlin Cup in Moscow, where he was the defending champion. The Croat is playing fewer tournaments in order to keep himself fresh for Davis Cup and is not showing any desperation to collect ranking points for London. It clearly indicates Cilic is already thinking about the Davis Cup final. For Cilic, another early exit cannot be ruled out here.
Swiss indoors officials granted a wildcard to Juan Martin del Potro, who has some fond memories of Basel. Del Potro is a marquee player and a two-time champion at this event. The towering Argentine twice defeated home hero Roger Federer in back-to-back years in 2012 and 2013, but his wrist hasn’t allowed him to stay at the top for a long time. Del Potro is currently 63rd in the ATP rankings but has made giant strides in his comeback from his wrist injury. The highlight of his season so far is being the silver medalist at the Rio Olympics, where he beat Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal en route to the final. Del Potro also reached the quarterfinals at his favorite Slam in New York, the U.S. Open. He is currently playing in Stockholm and is striking the ball cleanly. That should be enough to scare his opponents in Basel.
St. Jakobshalle
The facility, which is currently being renovated, opened in 1976 to host this long-running men’s tournament. There are two side courts to facilitate the staging of this tournament, while the main stadium court for the event houses roughly 9,000 people in a very intimate setting with clear sight lines.
