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10 Years On: Federer's streak-starting win vs. Nadal in the 2015 Basel final

Ten years ago in the Swiss Indoors Basel final, Roger Federer made the most of his hometown advantage to notch a 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 win against Rafael Nadal — a pivotal result in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series that snapped Federer's five-match losing streak against the Spaniard and started a five-match winning run of his own.

Adding further significance to the match, it was the great rivals' first clash in nearly two years, since the 2014 Australian Open semi-finals. They would not meet again until the 2017 Australian Open final, making their Basel showdown their only match across the 2015 and 2016 seasons.

"Six hundred-plus days have gone by, so a lot of things have happened,'' Federer said, noting his long wait to face Nadal. "Definitely I had the right game plan today.''

Late breaks decided the second and third sets in a closely contested final at the Basel event where Federer was once a ball boy. Nadal forced a final set with a break at 5-5 in the second, but Federer clinched the decisive break to lead 5-3 in the third with a series of groundstroke winners — a display of power that encapsulated a stellar attacking performance over the course of two hours.

a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/roger-federer/f324/overview'Roger Federer/a
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What is the Vienna tennis schedule?

The 2025 Erste Bank Open kick-starts on Monday with Top 10 star Alex de Minaur among those in action at the indoor hard-court ATP 500 in Vienna.

The third-seeded De Minaur, who is seventh in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin and well-placed to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals for the second consecutive year, takes on home wild card Jurij Rodionov in his Vienna opener. Fifth seed Karen Khachanov and eighth seed Alexander Bublik will also be in action on Monday in the Austrian capital.

View Monday’s full schedule below…

ORDER OF PLAY - MONDAY, 20 OCTOBER 2025
Center Court - start 13:30
Luciano Darderi (ITA) vs Brandon Nakashima (USA)
Alejandro Tabilo (CHI) vs [8] Alexander Bublik (KAZ)

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Sinner, Fritz, Shelton headline Vienna & Basel fields in potentially crucial week in Live Race

As the 2025 ATP Tour season nears a thrilling conclusion, the race to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals is reaching fever pitch. There are valuable points on offer this week at ATP 500 events in Vienna and Basel.

Jannik Sinner is the top seed at the Erste Bank Open in Vienna, joined by Alexander Zverev, while Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton lead the charge at the Swiss Indoors Basel. ATPTour.com looks at five things to watch at each tournament.

FIVE THINGS TO WATCH IN VIENNA:
Top Seed Sinner: After being forced to retire in the third round of his Shanghai title defence, Sinner returns to Vienna eager to reset. The 2023 champion, who opens against Daniel Altmaier, owns a 12-4 tournament record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index.

Turin Tussle: Alex de Minaur and Lorenzo Musetti will both look to strengthen their push to qualify for the Nitto ATP Finals. De Minaur is seventh in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin, while Musetti — chasing his debut at the season finale — sits just 60 points behind in eighth.

Medvedev’s Momentum: Fresh off a title run in Almaty and consecutive semi-finals in Beijing and Shanghai, Daniil Medvedev continues his late-season surge. Though 12th in the Live Race, the former World No. 1 still has the chance to qualify for his seventh straight appearance at the year-end championships. Andrey Rublev, 14th, and Karen Khachanov, 18th, also hunt crucial points in Vienna.

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Harrison & King move closer to Turin with Brussels triumph

Christian Harrison and Evan King won their third ATP Tour title of the season on Sunday at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open in Brussels, where their victory carried double weight.

The Americans edged top seeds Hugo Nys and Edouard Roger-Vasselin 7-6(10), 7-6(5) in the final to strengthen their push to qualify for the Nitto ATP FInals for the first time. Harrison and King are eighth in the PIF ATP Live Doubles Teams Rankings and extended their lead over ninth-placed Nys and Roger-Vasselin to 300 points. If the Frenchmen emerged victorious, they would have cut the gap to just 100 points.

Since making their ATP Tour debut in Montpellier in January, Harrison and King have become a consistent threat deep in tournaments. They have captured titles on hard courts in Dallas, Acapulco and now Brussels.

Erler/Miedler win first team title in Stockholm
Alexander Erler and Robert Galloway capped a dream run at the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm, where they did not drop a set en route to their first title together.

The Austrian-American duo defeated Vasil Kirkov and Bart Stevens 6-3, 6-2 in a clinical championship match. Their campaign in Stockholm included impressive wins over third seeds Yuki Bhambri and John Peers in the first round and top seeds Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori in the semi-finals.

It All Adds Up
a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/theo-arribage/a0e5/overview'Theo Arribage/a, a href='https://www.atptour.com/en/players/albano-olivetti/o411/overview'Albano Olivetti/a
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Ruud rules in Stockholm, defeats Humbert in final

Casper Ruud became the first Norwegian to triumph at the BNP Paribas Nordic Open in Stockholm on Sunday, when he brushed aside Ugo Humbert 6-2, 6-3 in the title match.

The second seed was dominant throughout the 68-minute final. He played with great intensity to rush Humbert and was impressive on serve. Ruud dropped just three points on serve in the match and struck 22 winners to 12 unforced errors, improving to 3-3 in the pair’s Lexus ATP Head2Head series.

"I would like to congratulate Ugo for his week and sorry about today. I think I played the best match of the year against you, so I am sorry. I am really happy but sorry Ugo," Ruud said. "I know that against you, if I don't play well, you will destroy me. So I knew I had to wake up and play well.

"I am really happy to win here in Stockholm and it is a little bit of a childhood dream as it is close to Norway and all the legends have played here in the past. Federer, Nadal, Borg, McEnroe, you name it. So it is an honour to get a title here."

Ruud is now a 14-time tour-level champion, with his triumph in Stockholm his second this year. In April, the 26-year-old won his maiden ATP Masters 1000 crown in Madrid.

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Medvedev ends 882-day title drought in Almaty

Daniil Medvedev’s title drought is over! Eight hundred and eighty-two days after triumphing in Rome, the 29-year-old returned to the winner’s circle at the Almaty Open on Sunday, when he beat Frenchman Corentin Moutet, who was chasing his maiden tour-level title.

Since his victory in the Italian capital in 2023, the former World No. 1 Medvedev had lost finals at the US Open, Beijing, Vienna, Australian Open, Indian Wells and Halle. However, he ensured there would be no more final heartbreak in Almaty and is now just the second active male player to win 19 hard-court titles, joining Novak Djokovic (71).

"I want to thank my family, my beautiful wife, my two daughters. It is the first time I have been at a tournament with my two daughters and wife together, so to get a title is really nice," Medvedev said during the trophy ceremony. "I honour this title to my second daughter Victoria, because the first title I got when my first daughter Alisa was born was for her, so this one is for Victoria."

In an entertaining final at the ATP 250 event, Medvedev coped with Moutet’s wizardry and moved forward effectively to back up his flat groundstrokes and close out points. With his hard-fought, two-hour, 29-minute 7-5, 4-6, 6-3 victory, Medvedev captured his 21st tour-level crown. All of Medvedev’s titles have come at different events.

"It is great. I was not super happy with how I played in some moments of the match, but to win feels amazing. In the most important points I played good," Medvedev said. "The last game was incredible and I am happy to win the title. It continues my funny story of 21 titles in 21 different cities."

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Rune confirms Achilles injury, upcoming surgery: 'See you as soon as possible'

Holger Rune has confirmed he suffered an Achilles injury during his semi-final clash on Saturday in Stockholm. The Dane was forced to retire at 2-2 in the second set against Ugo Humbert and was helped off court by an ATP physio.

“It’s gonna be a while before I can step on court again,” Rune wrote on Instagram on Sunday. “It’s tough. I had so much joy on court in Stockholm and it’s unbearable to think that I will not feel this energy for some time now.

“My Achilles is full broken on the proximal part meaning I need operation already next week and from here rehabilitation. Thank you for all your support now and always. Without you nothing would be the same. See you as soon as possible.”

Rune ends his season holding a 36-22 record, according to the Infosys ATP Win/Loss Index. The 22-year-old’s best result in 2025 came in Barcelona, where he defeated Carlos Alcaraz in the title match.

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Auger-Aliassime sets Lehecka final in Brussels

Felix Auger-Aliassime advanced to his fourth ATP Tour final of the season on Saturday at the BNP Paribas Fortis European Open, where he ended the run of Belgian wild card Raphael Collignon in Brussels.

The Canadian was solid throughout his 7-6(2), 6-4 win and has now earned 40 tour-level victories in 2025. Auger-Aliassime’s best year came in 2022, when he recorded 60 victories and qualified for the Nitto ATP Finals.

Aiming to return to the prestigious year-end event this season, the 25-year-old has boosted his hopes with his run in Brussels. Auger-Aliassime is ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin on 3,070 points, trailing eighth-placed Lorenzo Musetti by 415 points. The Italian currently occupies the final qualification spot.

Auger-Aliassime struck the ball aggressively off both wings to quiet the vocal Belgian crowd and end the Collignon resistance. He will compete for his eighth tour-level crown and third of the season on Sunday.

"I had a great opponent in front of me and he was inspired by playing at home," said Auger-Aliassime, who won the ATP 250 event when it was held in Antwerp in 2022. "I knew it could be the toughest challenge of the week so far. He has been playing great for the past few weeks and months. It was really fun to play, high intensity. It was a pleasure to be a part of that and this week and we have one more to go tomorrow."

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Tennis Tips - Training and Conditioning

Tennis is a dynamic sport that demands a combination of strength, speed, agility, and endurance. To excel on the court and minimize the risk of injury, a comprehensive training and conditioning program is essential. This document outlines key areas of focus to enhance your tennis performance. Cardiovascular Endurance Cardiovascular fitness is cruci...

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Tennis Tips - Excel at the Net

Mastering net play can significantly elevate your tennis game, turning defense into attack and closing out points with precision. This guide offers essential tips to help you dominate at the net. Positioning for Success Your position at the net is crucial. Always aim to be roughly midway between the service line and the net, slightly off-center tow...

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Strategic Play

Understanding Your Opponent Before you even step onto the court, take a moment to understand your opponent. Are they right-handed or left-handed? What are their strengths and weaknesses? Observing these elements can give you a significant advantage. Serve Strategy Your serve is often the first point of attack. Don't just aim for power; consider pla...

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Practice Drills

This document outlines a series of effective tennis practice drills designed to improve various aspects of your game, from fundamental strokes to strategic play. These drills are suitable for players of all levels looking to enhance their skills. Warm-Up Drills A proper warm-up is crucial to prevent injuries and prepare your body for the intensity ...

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Medvedev at a crossroads: Navigating his 'adult career'

Editor's Note: This feature about Daniil Medvedev was originally published on 4 October.

Daniil Medvedev has not lost his fire. He is just looking for another spark.

At age 29, the 20-time tour-level titlist is at a crossroads in his career, seeking to regain the confidence and consistency that helped him reach World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings, among other accomplishments. Medvedev is doing so with new voices in his corner.

Having gone 50 tournaments without lifting a trophy since winning five titles in the first five months of 2023 through Rome, Medvedev recently split with longtime coach Gilles Cervara. He is now working with Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke.

“It was not an easy decision,” the 2021 US Open champion told ATP Media at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where he won the title in 2019. “But at the same time, I'm 29 years old, almost 30 soon, and [I wanted] to try something new in my adult career. Because even when we started with Gilles, I was too young, so it was with my parents a bit. The academy where I was going was designing [my team]... To do it by myself was something nice because it was something new in my life.”

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‘Beautiful’ upgrades: Inside the enhancements at Shanghai's Qizhong Tennis Center

As the Qizhong Tennis Center celebrates its 20th anniversary, there are plenty of eye-catching facility upgrades to see at the home of the Rolex Shanghai Masters, Asia’s biggest ATP Tour event.

Renowned for its iconic magnolia retractable roof, the Qizhong Tennis Center opened in 2005 and hosted the Tennis Masters Cup for four consecutive years before the inaugural ATP Masters 1000 event began in 2009. Tournament director Michael Luevano and managing director Charles Humphrey Smith have seen the growth of not only the tournament, but also the facilities, most recently exemplified by this year’s developments.

"We have two new features this year,” said Smith. “One is a new roof at Grandstand 2, a fantastic design unlike anything in the world. And a new practice court, which is probably the first in tennis that we built — a stadium just for practice for our top players.”

The 1,400-seat practice stadium allows fans an intimate view of the world’s best players.

"It's a more relaxed environment and in one day, [fans] probably see two or three of the best players in the world here, so for them it's sort of a buffet of the best,” Smith added.

Grandstand 2.
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Goransson/Michelsen upset top seeds Arevalo/Pavic to reach Shanghai doubles final

Unseeded Andre Goransson and Alex Michelsen defeated top seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic 7-6(2), 2-6, 10-7 on Friday to reach the final of the Rolex Shanghai Masters.

The first-time duo was 0 for 7 on break points in the one-hour, 41-minute match, including 0 of 5 in the first set. Despite Goransson getting broken in the fourth and eighth games of the second set, they regrouped in the Match Tie-break.

Goransson/Michelsen went up 3-0 in the deciding tie-break and after Arevalo/Pavic tied it at 3-3, both teams held serve until Arevalo double-faulted at 7-8. Arevalo then hit a forehand wide on match point, putting the Swede and American in the final.

"It was like three or four days before I went to Laver Cup, he texted me and I was like, why not," said Michelsen on how they teamed up. "Now we're in the final."

Goransson is the first Swede to reach the doubles final in tournament history (since 2009) and he will attempt to become the first Swede to win an ATP Masters 1000 doubles title since Robert Lindstedt in 2012 Cincinnati (with Horia Tecau). Goransson will be appearing in his first ATP Masters 1000 final and eighth career final (3-4). His last title came in April at the 500-level tournament in Munich, with Sem Verbeek. His other titles came in Newport last year (also with Verbeek) and Pune in 2020 (with Christopher Rungkat).

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Federer returns to Shanghai centre court for exhibition match with Chinese actors

Two-time Rolex Shanghai Masters champion Roger Federer was back on centre court in China on Friday for an exhibition match, teaming with actor Donnie Yen to play actor Wu Lei and former WTA star Zheng Jie.

In a match featuring three tie-breaks, Federer and Yen earned a comeback victory, 5-7, 10-8, 7-1.

While the Chinese actors admitted to feeling nerves before the match, Federer praised their effort: "It shows that you care," he said of their pre-match jitters. "I think you did really well. Thank you for coming. I could see you had a great time."

The Swiss also credited Yen and Wu for their hard work in preparing for the match: "I want to say about practicing so hard to get ready for the match, for Donnie and for you, Lei. [Jie and I] don't have to practice as much as them, but just to see the passion behind the practice sessions, I hope they can carry it after the match as well," he said. "And also maybe people who are watching and who are here at the stadium, just to show how important sports is for everyday life, for happiness. I'm happy we could share centre court here in Qizhong Stadium today."

Federer also played an exhibition match last year in Shanghai, teaming with Chinese singer and actor Eason Chan against the ATP Tour's Zhang Zhizhen and table tennis champion Fan Zhendong.

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ATP appoints Andre Silva as Chief Tour Officer

The ATP has today announced the appointment of Andre Silva as Chief Tour Officer. Silva brings extensive international leadership experience across professional tennis and global sport, including senior roles with TEAM8, tournament leadership at the Cincinnati Open, and executive positions at the PGA Tour overseeing flagship events such as THE PLAYERS Championship and The Presidents Cup.

He also previously served as ATP Chief Player Officer and Tournament Director of the Nitto ATP Finals. With a track record spanning athlete representation, major event delivery and commercial operations, combined with a deep understanding of player and tournament relations, Silva is uniquely positioned to lead the Tour at a transformative moment for men’s tennis. He succeeds Ross Hutchins, who has held the role since 2020.

Andrea Gaudenzi, ATP Chairman, said: “Andre is a proven leader with a unique combination of experience across players, tournaments and other sports. His appointment comes at a pivotal time as we continue building a stronger, more compelling ATP Tour, as well as advocating to unify the broader tennis landscape through our OneVision plan.”

Andre Silva, incoming ATP Chief Tour Officer, said: “It’s an honour to return to the ATP and contribute to the sport that has shaped my professional life. I’m energised by the progress the Tour has made in recent years and look forward to working with players, tournaments and stakeholders to take our sport to even greater heights.”

Silva will assume his new role from 1 November 2025 and will be based out of the ATP’s Florida office.

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Medvedev clinches 50th Top 10 win, advances to Shanghai SFs

Daniil Medvedev recorded his 50th Top 10 win on Friday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where he defeated Alex de Minaur to reach his second ATP Masters 1000 semi-final of the season.

In a physical encounter, with more than 32 points going beyond nine shots, Medvedev found the edge against De Minaur, who was slightly off his best. The 29-year-old struck 11 more winners than the Australian (27-16), committed two fewer unforced errors (25-27) and won 15 of his 16 first-serve points in the second set to advance after one hour and 53 minutes.

"I was super tired and I knew against Alex, like against Learner, we would have long points. I think in the third or fourth game we had a couple and I thought it was going to be a long day, but I am happy with the way I played," Medvedev said. "I was really clutch in the important moments and hitting the ball great and putting him under pressure. The second set was tight but I found the best at the end. I am really happy with the level."

Medvedev is chasing his first tour-level title since Rome in May 2023 and he will next meet Arthur Rinderknech in the last four. Earlier this season, Medvedev advanced to the semi-finals in Indian Wells but lost to Holger Rune.

Medvedev, who triumphed in Shanghai in 2019, has reached 50 tour-level semi-finals on hard courts, with 18 of his 20 titles coming on the surface. He has been made to work hard in Shanghai on his quest for title number 21, also surviving a three-set epic against Learner Tien in the fourth round.

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Rinderknech continues dream run, defeats Auger-Aliassime to reach Shanghai SFs

Arthur Rinderknech earned the biggest win of his career on Friday at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where he moved past Felix Auger-Aliassime to reach his first ATP Masters 1000 semi-final.

Rinderknech defeated World No. 3 Alexander Zverev and World No. 19 Jiri Lehecka to advance to his maiden Masters 1000 quarter-final, and ensured his run would not end against World No. 13 Auger-Aliassime. The Frenchman produced a high-quality display of aggressive striking and closed out the match with authority, sealing a dominant 6-3, 6-4 victory on his second match point after 87 minutes.

Following his victory, Rinderknech raised his arms aloft and looked toward his cousin Valentin Vacherot, who is in semi-final action against Novak Djokovic on Saturday. Read more about the cousins' dream tournament.

"It is huge. First of all, I followed my cousin," Rinderknech said, referencing qualifier Vacherot, who is set to break the Top 100 after becoming the first Monegasque player to reach a tour-level semi-final. "He was going through the emotions on Thursday and I am trying to follow and battle and do the same as him. It has been incredible since the start of the tournament.

"The whole family is following from home. We are in our own little world here. It has been incredible and today was a good performance from myself and I am happy it was straight sets, so I am not too tired for tomorrow."

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Five things to know about Arthur Rinderknech, who is into the Shanghai SFs with cousin Vacherot

Arthur Rinderknech is making his mark this week at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, where he has advanced to the semi-finals at an ATP Masters 1000 event for the first time. The 30-year-old has earned three consecutive Top 20 wins at the tournament, defeating Alexander Zverev, Jiri Lehecka and Felix Auger-Aliassime.

ATPTour.com looks at five things to know about Rinderknech. Editor's Note: This story was originally published on 31 August 2025.

College roots in Texas
While many future pros were travelling on the junior circuit, Rinderknech was charting a different course, 8,000 kilometres from home. The Frenchman chose to play college tennis at Texas A&M University, spending four years in College Station, a town better known for college football than tennis.

“I felt like it was the best fit for me,” Rinderknech told ATPTour.com in the past. “I wasn’t the best in juniors. I was probably only ranked about fifth, sixth or seventh at my age in France, so I didn’t have much help. I wanted to keep playing tennis, not only go to school, and I could do both of them in the States, so that’s why I decided to go there. It was just a great experience and I kept improving.”

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