Fans erupt as Federer claims 99th career title

Roger Federer has left fans in a spin after extending his astonishing record in Basel to claim a staggering 99th career title.

The 37-year-old delighted the home support to land his ninth Swiss Indoors title, winning 7-6 (7-5) 6-4 against Marius Copil.

The world No.3 was a break down in both sets against the Romanian qualifier who set up the match by upsetting second seed Alexander Zverev in the last four.

However, Federer rallied to maintain his four-year unbeaten run in the tournament in his home city, claiming victory in an hour and 33 minutes to the delight of his legions of supporters.

The title is Federer’s first in more than four months since winning on grass at Stuttgart in June.

“It’s been a magical week. It was dream run for me,” Federer said in his acceptance speech, before his fans’ ovation brought tears welling in his eyes.

Federer’s 151st singles final on the ATP tour shaped as one of his biggest mismatches by ranking. He has never lost a final to an opponent ranked below No. 87.

His ninth title at his hometown event where he was once a ball boy, has now matched the nine he won at the Halle grass-court event in Germany.

He closed the gap on the all-time singles titles list to Jimmy Connors, who leads with 109.

It was also a great week for Copil, currently ranked No. 93, who is in line to rise above his career-best ranking of No. 73 when the new list is published on Monday.

“I came through qualifying and I didn’t know what to expect but here I am,” said the 28-year-old Copil.

“Hopefully now I can push my career up with a new place in the rankings.”