After spending almost half a decade at the top of men's tennis, Roger Federer started to lose the ground to Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic but he was still the major figure at the biggest tournaments, winning three out of four Grand Slams between Roland Garros 2009 and Australian Open 2010.

That crown in Melbourne was the only one for the Swiss between Cincinnati 2009 and Cincinnati 2010 and that all changed at the end of 2010 season when he won 30 of the last 33 matches to regain his composure and get back on the winning way.

A week after losing in the final of Shanghai to Andy Murray, Roger entered the ATP 250 event in Stockholm for the first time since 2000 when he was the 19-year-old and won the title, his third of the season. He was the top seed and four wins were enough to secure the title, struggling a little bit in the quarter-final against Stan Wawrinka but dominating in the other encounters for the 64th ATP title that put him on the level terms with Pete Sampras.

Federer needed just 51 minutes to dismiss hard-hitting American Taylor Dent in the second round 6-1 6-2, saving both break points he faced and stealing rival's serve four times for the place in the quarters. This was the 900th ATP match for Roger to become the only active player who reached that number.

After a slow start, Federer toppled Wawrinka 2-6 6-3 6-2 in an hour and 48 minutes, becoming only the ninth player in the Open era with at least 50 ATP wins in nine consecutive seasons. In the semi-final, Ivan Ljubicic served for the opening set but Roger broke back in the very last moment to reach the tie break that he won 7-5, using that momentum in set number two for a 7-6 6-2 triumph and the place in the final.

There, he ousted Florian Mayer 6-4 6-3 in just over an hour to win the title and get on the level terms with Pete Sampras. The Swiss lost 15 points in 10 service games and after the lone break he suffered he was always in the driving seat, winning 42% of the return points and scoring three breaks from seven chances to cross the finish line first.

Both players had more winners than unforced errors but Federer was the one who controlled the majority of the points, forcing 20 errors from the German and having the upper hand in the mid-range and longer points to wrap up the win in straight sets.

Roger opened the match with a forehand winner that delivered the first game for him and he created three break points already in the second game, unable to convert any and create the gap. Florian was the one who drew first blood in the seventh game after a deep return but he couldn't stay in front for too long, getting broken at 15 in game eight to let Roger back on the scoreboard.

The Swiss took charge after that and he closed the set with another break in game 10 after an amazing backhand that Mayer failed to control. The German wasted a game point at 2-3 in set number two and Federer broke him with a well-constructed attack and a drop shot winner to move 4-2 ahead and make another big step towards the title.

Both players served well in the remaining games and Roger secured the win with a service winner in the ninth game to win the title and catch Pete Sampras' ATP title tally. Roger Federer's run in Stockholm 2010:

↓ SHOW RESULTS ↓

R2 Taylor Dent 6-1 6-2

QF Stan Wawrinka 2-6 6-3 6-2

SF Ivan Ljubicic 7-6(5) 6-2

F Florian Mayer 6-4 6-3

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