Roger Federer claims 99th career ATP title

Roger Federer won his 99th career ATP Tour title on Sunday, defeating Marius Copil in two straight sets, 7-6 (5), 6-4 in the Swiss Indoors final.

Federer blew kisses to a 12,000 spectator in the St. Jakobhalle, which now makes Basel's local hero a bigger main stage.

Roger Federer won a ninth title at his hometown event in Basel, where he was once a ball boy, equalled the nine he won at the Halle grass-court event in Germany. He closed the gap on the all-time singles titles list to Jimmy Connors, who has 109 career titles. 

In his acceptance speech, Federer said: “It's been a wonderful week.” “It was dream run of wins for me," and his fans' ovation brought tears welling in his eyes.

The top-seeded Federer came back after trailing by a service break in both sets against the 93rd-ranked Romanian, whose serve was measured at 243 kph (151 mph) in his opening service game.

Just minutes after saving a break point, Federer clinched, took his first match-point chance when Copil sent a backhand into the net.

The 37-year-old Federer won his first title in more than four months since winning on grass at Stuttgart in June.

Roger Federer is yet to lose a final to an opponent ranked below No. 87.

Federer's 151st singles final on the ATP tour has been described as one of his biggest mismatches by ranking.

His first meeting with Copil came after Federer amassed 20 Grand Slam singles titles, while Copil has just one career game win at a Grand Slam - in the 2015 Australian Open first round.

The 28-year-old Romanian Copil came to Basel ATP with career prize money $1.67 million, apparently less than what Federer earned for winning the Australian Open in January.

The first-set tiebreaker was likely to be important given Copil's career record of 8-52 when losing the opening set in top-tier matches.

In the seventh point, Federer got a mini-break, being rewarded for solid defense from the baseline when Copil netted an attempted drop shot.

Following two set points saved by Copil with big serves, Federer won the first on his own serve when his opponent sent a forehand long.

Once again, Copil quickly broke serve in the seventh point but this time held the key fifth game when Federer had two break points.

It was a short reprieve before Federer broke in Copil's next service game despite the 28-year Romanian ending one long rally with a backhand lob for a winner.