It's Federer vs Djokovic off for Swiss Indoor Title

Defending champ Roger Federer is slated to face Novak Djokovic in the Swiss Indoors Final after defeating childhood friend Marco Chiudinelli in the semifinal. This will be the Swiss player’s fourth title in his hometown tournament if he manages to defeat his Serb opponent. Federer currently holds a career record of 9-4 against Djokovic and the two are expected to square off in St. Jakobshalle, where Federer used to serve as a ball boy. >

“Obviously, the home crowd will be behind him,” Djokovic said. However, Federer is not expected to take any chances. The Serb, after all, is his first seeded opponent, with Djokovic ranking at no.3 for the 70th time in 2009. The Serb is currently on his 9th tour final, a tour best. He had earlier beaten Radek Stepanek in September in the fourth round of the 2009 US Open held in the Arthur Ashe Stadium. Djokovic trailed his opponent earlier in the game, but managed a final win with a strong forehand. He broke in the first and seventh games in the deciding set.

“I wouldn’t say necessarily it was my good shots that prevented the loss. It was luck only,” he said. “I just tried to get some first serves in and at least get that advantage. On this (hard-court) surface, it’s crucial.”

Federer reached the finals by giving a strong backhand crosscourt and breaking serve early in the second set with Chiudinelli to close the match.