ATP Basel Quarterfinals: Federer vs. Korolev

Basel, Switzerland – As the Davidoff Swiss Indoors Basel tournament rolls into the quarters, so does the epitome of awesome in tennis, Roger Federer. Two quick and easy matches against qualifier Olivier Rochus and Andreas Seppi, on minimum effort with several deft flicks of the wrist and a few fun points thrown in for those who thrive on Fedgasms, and Federer lands his spot in the final eight.

For the first time since his US Open final loss to Juan Martin Del Potro, Roger Federer headlines action on the ATP Tour. In his much-anticipated return, Federer, the three-time defending champion, has shown no rustiness in his game whatsoever. He has also been challenged little up to this point, as there is a huge drop off in talent between him and his first few opponents.

That isn’t going to change, not yet at least as he next faces world No. 58 Evgeny Korolev for a spot in the semis. Head-to-head, the pair collided once before, at the 2009 Australian Open R64. Federer – surprise, surprise – won the match in easy straight sets 6-2, 6-3, 6-1.

Tennis Betting Line: Roger Federer -5000 Evgeny Korolev +1200

Match Time: 08:00 AM Eastern Time Friday November 6, 2009

Tennis Betting Verdict: Roger Federer will enter this match, no doubt, the prohibitive favourite. It has been a struggle for nearly everyone to take anything away from Federer over the last five years, especially in the early rounds of a tournament. Korolev will be no different – a long shot to put it kindly.

In 2009, Federer is having an enviable year. Although you woudn’t have known it after the way it started and his obvious mental struggles against the elite trio of Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic. Things turned around for Federer when he beat Nadal in the Madrid Masters final. A watershed moment that we now know it to be, the victory propelled him to the French Open and Wimbledon titles as well as the Cincinnati Masters title. Since Madrid, Federer has been defeated in only two matches – in the Rogers Cup quarters (l. to Tsonga) and the US Open final (l. to del Potro).

The betting on this match is a no-brainer really. Federer has everything going for him right now, not the least of which is home edge. Korolev has little to hope for in this match. The best he could possibly do is to try to avoid an embarrassing defeat.

Tennis Free Picks: Federer in straight sets