Roger Federer picked up his 10th career title at the Swiss Indoors in Basel on Sunday, defeating Alex de Minaur in the final to earn yet another victory in his hometown.
Federer had little trouble dispatching the 20-year-old Frenchman, earning a comfortable 6-2, 6-2 victory to lift the trophy.
Federer Not Playing in Paris Masters
For Federer, the victory marked his fourth victory this season, and could serve to give him momentum heading into the ATP Finals next month in London. Federer currently sits third in the Nitto ATP Finals standings, as the 500 points he picked up moved him back ahead of Daniil Medvedev in the Race to London rankings.
On Monday, the organizers of the Paris Masters released a statement saying that Federer would be withdrawing from the tournament in order to stay in the best shape possible at age 38.
“I am extremely disappointed to have to pull out of the Rolex Paris Masters,†Federer said in the statement. “I have to pace myself since I want to play as long as possible on the ATP Tour. I am sorry for my French fans, who I will see next year at Roland Garros.â€
The statement did not note whether Federer plans to play in London, but there was no indication that he intends to sit out of the ATP Finals in November.
In the week’s other ATP tournament, Dominic Thiem defeated Diego Schwartzman in the Vienna Open final on Sunday to pick up his fifth championship of the year.
Thiem, the top seed in the event, came from behind to grab a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 victory.
The 26-year-old Thiem has already clinched a spot in London, as the Austrian currently sits fifth in the ATP Finals standings with 4,935 points. The result was also critical for Schwartzman, who improved his longshot hopes of qualifying for London by picking up 250 points, but who could have risen all the way to 10th had he won the final. Instead, Schwartzman sits in 14th place heading into Paris.
12 Players Still Alive for Last Two ATP Finals Spots
The Paris Masters will ultimately determine who will be the final two men to qualify for the ATP Finals London. While Alexander Zverev and Matteo Berrettini currently hold those positions, everyone down to de Minaur in 18th position is theoretically alive – though those further down the rankings would not only need to win the Paris Masters, but would need some help from those who are ranked above them.
Zverev is close to qualifying, as at least two of the players behind him would have to reach the semifinals in order to surpass him in the standings. But the eighth position is much more up for grabs, with Roberto Bautista Agut just 130 points behind Berrettini, meaning even a quarterfinal berth – worth 180 points – could allow Bautista Agut to surpass the Italian if Berrettini has an early exit from the tournament.
Also in realistic contention are Gael Monfils and David Goffin, who could jump into an ATP Finals berth with a run to the semifinals. Fabio Fognini, Kei Nishikori, and Diego Schwartzman could work their way in by reaching the Paris Masters finals, while Stan Wawrinka, Karen Khachanov, John Isner and de Minaur would all need to win the event to have any hope of qualification.