Tennis ace Federer set to shake off Madrid blip at home in Basel

0 Comments | AFP, October, 2007

BASEL, Switzerland (AFP) — Top seed Roger Federer refuses to become flustered as he heads into a title defence beginning Tuesday at his home Swiss Indoors.

The former ballboy at the St Jakobshalle says he won't carry any lingering bad memories forward into his opening match on Tuesday against 56th-ranked German Michael Berrer after losing his grip on Sunday's Madrid Masters final and going down 1-6, 6-3, 6-3 to David Nalbandian.

"Usually I play better in finals, but I didn't have my best day," confessed the 12-time Grand Slam champion, who won both Madrid and Basel a year ago.

"It must have had to do with his great game."

And the winner of a leading total of six titles on the ATP this season added: "I play two or three indoor events a year, not a...