The Swiss legend claimed the 99th singles title of his illustrious career on home soil at the Swiss Indoors last week, declaring afterwards: “The relief is big, it could be a turning point.”
Basel was Federer’s first win since the Stuttgart Open in mid-June having lost in finals in Halle and Cincinnati and suffered disappointing defeats at Wimbledon and the US Open to Kevin Anderson and John Millman, as well as losing in the semi-finals of the Shanghai Masters to Borna Coric.
The 37-year-old has decided to play in Paris for the first time in 2015 but a tough draw – and potential showdowns with Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic – stand in his way of a landmark 100th title.
Yet after a tough period, Federer is feeling full of confidence and keen to continue his recent improved form going into the Finals in London next month.
Federer is a six-time winner at the season-ending event which is contested between the tour’s top-eight ranked players.
He is the most successful player in the tournament’s history, although the in-form Djokovic is only one triumph behind and the Serbian will hope to draw level with Federer as he seeks to end the year as No 1 over Nadal.
Federer has not won the ATP Finals in any of the last six years having lost three finals since then, but he hopes winning in Basel can propel a strong finish to the year in Paris and London.
He told ATP World Tour: “I’ve had not the best matches sometimes, if I look back at some of my losses in Wimbledon and maybe also in Cincinnati the way I lost, I didn’t quite enjoy that.
“Also US Open wasn’t easy, losing to Millman in the circumstances is not a good feeling obviously.
“I was happy how the Laver Cup turned around for me and also Shanghai I started to play better tennis, so I’m happy that this could be a turning point.
“You need confidence, especially in London, if you want to beat the best players in the world and I haven’t played against a lot of top-10 players this year.
“I don’t know why that is, if it’s just the luck of the draw or I haven’t played enough to get to those guys enough or maybe I’ve lost in ones I should’ve won a couple of.
“It’s been a good season overall so I’m happy I’m back to winning ways and this gets me one step closer to 100 titles which is a big goal of mine.
“Every tournament I play for the rest of my life I’ll always have a chance to reach 100 so for every tournament I’ll be super excited.
“If it happens, it’s great. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. I’ll give it the best chance I have. Every tournament I’ll prepare the best way possible.
“It’s always nice winning titles, that’s the goal – that’s why I’m still on the tour. Sometimes it’s less about the ranking, less about reaching a semi-finals of a tournament.
“I’d rather win a tournament than reach the semis of a bigger tournament to be honest.
“Especially home tournaments, which I make a priority for me like Basel, which for me is a massive deal. Leaving a tournament without having lost is a great feeling for any athlete I believe.”
Federer faces Milos Raonic in his opening match at the Paris Masters later today.
