The 34th and final duel between John McEnroe and Jimmy Connors took place at the Swiss Indoors in 1991. When a virtually unknown Czech player named Ivan Lendl defeated the legendary Björn Borg in the Swiss Indoor final in 1980, it garnered major headlines around the world. This event, played originally in an inflatable dome in 1970, is one of the most important indoor tournaments in the world that almost every great player has played in. Jakobshalle in Basel’s south side, within walking distance of Federer’s home in Münchenstein.
This tournament guaranteed him a prize money paycheck of at least $9,800. In recognition for his results in Toulouse, Federer received a wild card entry into the Swiss Indoors, Switzerland’s biggest tournament, from tournament director Roger Brennwald. Rene Stauffer, the author of the Federer biography THE ROGER FEDERER STORY: QUEST FOR PERFECTION ($24.95, New Chapter Press, details Federer’s first playing experience in Basel in 1998 in this exclusive book excerpt.
Roger is a three-time champion at the event, but it was, at one time, an elusive title for him as it was not until 2006 that he won his first “hometown” title. Roger Federer hits the courts this week in his hometown of Basel, Switzerland for the Swiss Indoor Championships.