GSTAAD, Switzerland -- Wimbledon champion Roger Federer beat Igor Andreev 6-2, 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 Sunday to win the Swiss Open for the first time.
It's the tour-leading seventh title of the season for the top-ranked Federer, who has won his past nine finals.
Federer had to play four matches in three days because of rain delays.
"I always believed that I could win in Switzerland," said Federer, who adjusted quickly to this tournament's red clay after beating Andy Roddick in
the Wimbledon final for his 24th consecutive victory on grass.
"If you can come from Wimbledon and play on the clay court -- totally different tennis, totally different game -- and win a tournament, you really
deserve the title of tennis' No. 1," Andreev said.
It was the first ATP Tour final for Andreev, a Russian who turns 21 Wednesday.
"It's good experience for me, and I just hope I can go a stage further in the future," he said.
Federer entered Sunday with 17 tour titles, including three from Grand Slam tournaments, but he never had managed to win in his home country. Last
year, Federer won Wimbledon then came to the Swiss Open and lost in the final to Jiri Novak.
Federer is only the second Swiss man to win the Swiss Open. The other was Heinz Gunthardt in 1980; Gunthardt later coached Steffi Graf and worked with
Jennifer Capriati this year.
In doubles, top-seeded Leander Paes and David Rikl beat Marc Rosset and Stanislas Wawrinka 6-4, 6-2.
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