Longtime rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal notched up straight-sets wins at the Swiss Indoors Tourney on Saturday to set up their first final against each other since 2013.
It will be a first-time title match appearance for Nadal in the hometown of his longtime rival, while Federer will be bidding for his seventh trophy from a tenth straight Basel final and 12th overall at his local venue.
The Swiss top seed crushed American Jack Sock 6-3, 6-4 though the 17-time Grand Slam winner was broken while serving for victory leading a set and 5-1.
Nadal shrugged off an opening set knee injury worry in a 6-4, 7-6(7) win over France’s Richard Gasquet.
The Spanish third seed admitted he got a fright when he felt something in his right knee after a sudden movement in the seventh game.
He immediately called for the trainer and got a strapping below his kneecap before carrying on.
Nadal then resumed business as usual with a break-back of Gasquet for 4-4 on his way to taking the set on a third winning opportunity with an inside-out forehand winner.
“I was a little bit scared. I felt something in the knee,” he said. “It’s not the knee I usually have problems (with).”
Nadal said he was thrilled to be facing Federer again for a title.
“We’ve played a lot in important matches. This will be another special match against an amazing player,” said Nadal.