Tennis: Spotlight on Federer in Basel

BASEL: Roger Federer will claim the bulk of the spotlight when the Swiss Indoors tournament begins today with his opening showcase match. The hometown hero and world number one will miss the chance at possible revenge against Andy Murray after a Shanghai semi-final defeat a week ago as the US Open champion withdrew with back pain before the draw. Federer, as usual, is scheduled for prime-time today evening at the St Jakobshalle, the iconic local venue where he got his start in tennis two decades ago as a ballboy. He will face 32nd-ranked Frenchman Jeremy Chardy for the first time. The world number one will be fighting during the week to protect his top season ranking, with pressure on from number two Serb Novak Djokovic, who is taking the week off from competition.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 22^nd,  2012.