Tennis- Basel

This week in Basel sees a number of players battling it out for not only another title for the year but also for the final two spots in the World Tour Finals. Last week Tomas Berdych picked up a title in Stockholm to book his place in London and leave just two spots remaining. Here in Basel sees three players competing with hopes of London. Juan Martin Del Potro done his chances no harm when he won in Vienna last week and this week he can guarantee his place if he can pick up the title here in Basel. Fellow hopefuls Richard Gasquet and Stanislas Wawrinka are unlikely to make it but with feint hopes still alive they will give it their all this week. So let's have a look at who might be lifting the title come Sunday.
          The first name on everybody's lips will of course be Roger Federer who plays in front of his home crowd this week. Roger returned to action in Shanghai where he lost to Andy Murray in the semi finals. A lot of people have been praising Murray and how he "dismantled" Federer and the question was asked how much future damage would it do to him. Let's get real, Roger lost no sleep over that loss. It was his first time back playing since the US Open and he was far from his best and there were difficult circumstances surrounding him this week regards security. The next time we see Roger in a Grand Slam or another big event he will be a different animal. This week should be another step back into competition for him and in front of his home fans he will want to play some good tennis and lift a sixth Basel title.
          His biggest challenger this week could be Argentine Juan Martin Del Potro. Del Potro has had a steady year which at times promised to be brilliant but it is another step back to his best and he will now be hoping to make strides on the Grand Slams next year. I like the way he went about his business in Vienna last week. He could have been beaten in the first round but after that he played some great tennis to walk through the rest of the week. He needs a deep run here to guarantee his place in London so expect him to be playing at a high level. I don't see a lot in his half that could beat him aside from fellow London hopeful, Richard Gasquet but Delpo is a much more consistent player and would fancy his chances of beating the Frenchman if they met here.
           Gasquet and Wawrinka are both still in with chances of making it to London and will both have uphill battles to reach the finals here which is what they will need to stay alive in the race. Gasquet must beat Delpo and Wawrinka needs to beat Federer. Gasquet is capable of beating anybody on his day and this year he has improved under Riccardo Piatti. I don't see him reaching London unless a lot of results go his way and he manages to win in Paris next week. Wawrinka will need even more to make it. He could win here this week and in Paris next week and still miss out. Andreas Seppi might not be London bound but that didn't stop him winning the title last week in Moscow. This week could be another good one for him if he continues that form. A dark horse this week could be Mikhail Youzhny who has got the sort of game to upset Delpo and Gasquet but consistency is the issue with him also. I like Grigor Dimitrov's chances of a great year next year and he could finish this season strongly and a deep run here isn't out of the question.
         In the end I think this comes down to a thrilling final between Del Potro and Federer. Federer used to always have the advantage over the big man by using the entire play book to move the Argentine but the trend has changed recently. Del Potro was certain to beat Federer at the French Open until injury but I think he doesn't have enough tennis played recently to beat Roger. I think Federer will yet another Basel title next Sunday in another great match between him and Delpo.