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| Roger Federer © Gallo Images |
Roger Federer returns after six weeks off resting and easing
into his new role as a father of twin girls when he headlines at
his home event, the Swiss Indoors, starting on Monday.
The world number one opted out of the recent ATP Asian sojourn
after a gruelling mid-season, where he re-established ATP
superiority with titles at Paris and Wimbledon plus a US Open final
appearance.
The St Jakobshalle will miss out on a possible re-run of the US
Open final, after ailing New York winner Juan Martin Del Potro
withdrew with a lingering wrist injury.
The Argentine has not been the same player since he beat Federer
for the trophy in September but the Tour continues apace, with
Basel, the Paris Masters and the year-end World Tour Finals in
London from November 22 to come as the 2009 campaign draws to a
close.
Federer's record 15 Grand Slam titles will be feted in suitably
high-class style on Monday's opening day, with a ceremony featuring
a performance by Spanish soprano Montserrat Caballe.
The Catalan opera singer will be accompanied by the Opera Choir
of the Theater Basel and the Basel Festival Orchestra, before
Federer's opening match against a qualifier.
"I've been back practising and training now for some time and
all is going well," Federer said in the run-up to the event he has
won for the last three years.
"I feel much better. I'm looking forward to playing my hometown
tournament."
Federer made his last appearance on court in a Davis Cup win
over Italy the weekend after losing the US Open final.
Beijing champion and Shanghai semi-finalist Novak Djokovic makes
his debut at the tournament in the main draw as second seed, with
German Andreas Beck his first opponent.
Chile's Fernando Gonzalez, a familiar face in Basel after taking
the 2005 title and two runner-up spots, is seeded third, with a
first-round match against American John Isner.
Croatian Marin Cilic takes the fourth seeding on a wild card
after Del Potro's pullout while Czech Radek Stepanek is seeded
fifth ahead of Swiss Stanislas Wawrinka.
American James Blake will play as the seventh seed after an
indifferent two events in Asia.
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