Tennis: Enqvist beats Federer in final

It marked the first time in eight appearances that Enqvist has advanced beyond the second round. "It was nice to finally be able to play some nice tennis here in Basel," said Enqvist. "It was tough and I think I played really well otherwise I wouldn't have been able to beat Roger."

Enqvist powered to a 3-0 lead in the opening set, winning the first five points of the match, while a tense, struggling Federer squandered four break points. The Swede, up 5-2, then stretched Federer to deuce seven times before converting the last of five set points.

But finding his rhythm, Federer broke the Swede's opening serve then held for a 2-0 lead, and with Enqvist committing a clutch of unforced errors, was able to simply hold serve to close out the set, concluding with a stinging ace to the forehand. The third set opened with two love service games, and both players holding serve until 5-5. It appeared the Swiss player would take the set after breaking Enqvist to go 5-6 and serving for the set. But shocking the crowd, Federer wasted two set points, sending the session into a tie-break.

Enqvist jumped to a 4-1 lead, which Federer quickly made up. But the Swede won the next four points, silencing the crowd's cowbells as he clinched the set with a lightening forehand cross court return. Looking almost angry, Federer charged to a 3-0 lead in the fourth set, then broke again at 4-1, relentlessly attacking the net as the frustrated Swede began making repeated unforced errors.

But the Swiss appeared to collapse after the effort in the final set, losing his serve at 1-0 and again at 4-1 and surrendering the match with a long ball. Enqvist, whose only other title this year came at the Tennis Masters Series event in Cincinnati in August, also reached the finals in Indian Wells, Adelaide and Long Island.

(AP)