Roger Federer is braced for a hero's welcome as he plays his home ATP event for the first time here in three years, taking aim at a record-levelling 11th title this season at the Swiss Indoors.
The king of the courts triumphed in Madrid to lift his 12th Masters Series title at the weekend, winning his first trophy in Spain as he crushed Chile's Fernando Gonzalez 7-5, 6-1, 6-0.
The world No 1 starts his campaign for a first title at Basel against Czech qualifier Tomas Zib. Federer has become the first man to win more than ten trophies on the ATP for three years, running. Missing from his collection, though, is the cherished silverware from Basel. On Monday, the local boy collected the keys to the city, in a presentation featuring former ski great Pirmin Zurbriggen.
Despite nine Grand Slam crowns and 12 masters Series shields, the sentimental Federer admits that he'd love to win at home. "It's obvious the win in Basel will be much more emotional (than a win at next week's final Masters in Paris Bercy)," said Federer, 82-5 on the season. "I went through the whole Basel system of being a ball boy, my mom doing the tournament credentials and having so many people and friends here. "Paris is a bigger tournament, one that I haven't been able to win yet."