Federer defeats Nadal to win the Basel tournament for the seventh time.

The 2015 Swiss Indoors final between two living legends of tennis was a thrilling affair, with the home player winning 2-1.

Federer defeated Nadal after more than three years. Photo: Reuters.

Two and a half years have passed since Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal last met in a final. Time has somewhat diminished the form of both players, making the match less of a classic than in the past. But the class of these living legends is still evident in every shot, enough to thrill fans.

Nadal displayed tenacious resilience, along with strengths in long rallies and baseline play. Federer shone thanks to his exceptional serve. After more than two hours, the top seed defeated his Spanish opponent with scores of 6-3, 5-7, 6-3. After five consecutive losses to Nadal recently, Federer finally won, his 11th victory in 34 encounters.

This is Federer's seventh Basel title in 12 appearances in the final of the tournament held in his home country. Halle, Wimbledon, Cincinnati, and Dubai are four other tournaments where the Swiss player has also won at least seven titles.

This could be considered Nadal's best match of 2015, after a period of poor form. The third seed played very confidently against his long-time rival, showing no impatience or signs of giving up whenever Federer took the lead.

Nadal neutralized Federer's backhand extremely well, causing the Swiss player to frequently make unforced errors on his backhand. The home player committed 32 unforced errors throughout the match, 12 more than his opponent. Federer's early SABR strategy also failed against Nadal's precise spin and passing shots.

Nadal (right) had a good match compared to his poor form in 2015. Photo: Reuters.

Nadal was good, but Federer played even better. His excellent serve allowed the 34-year-old to hit 12 aces. His combination of serving, net play, and control of the court resulted in 44 winners and 23 net wins. Therefore, Federer's service games often ended quickly, while Nadal struggled to hold his serve.

Federer's strong serve helped him finish the first set comfortably with two breaks. The second set was more closely contested. Federer made numerous errors, and in the 11th game, Nadal secured a crucial break, leveling the score at 1-1.

The third set unfolded similarly to the second, but at a crucial moment, the home crowd became a powerful weapon for Federer. In the eighth game, the Swiss fans created waves of support in the stands, constantly cheering on their idol. This immediately paid off when Nadal made three errors, losing a crucial break. Despite his best efforts to turn the tide in the following game, the Spaniard couldn't prevent Federer from holding his serve and ultimately winning the set.

According to VNE