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Basel - Roger Federer outclassed Kei Nishikori 6-1, 6-3 in the Swiss Indoors final on Sunday to win his first title in 10 months.
Federer showed the full range of his shot-making to school the 32nd-ranked Japanese, who stunned top-ranked Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.
"He was too good for me today," said the 21-year-old Nishikori. "I tried to do my best but he wouldn't let me."
Federer won for the fifth time in six years at Basel, where he once worked as a ballboy.
Federer's 68th career title was just his second this season.
He won the season-opening event in Doha, Qatar, and had not reached a final since losing the French Open to Rafael Nadal in June.
Now ranked No 4 at age 30, Federer was playing his first event as a player ranked outside the top three since he won his first Wimbledon title in 2003.
Nishikori started brightly on his own serve but Federer broke after reeling off three straight winners.
Federer dropped just one point on his own serve in the first set. He repeatedly pressured Nishikori's serve and took the set on his opponent's double fault.
Nishikori fended off break point chances to hold serve early in the second, then showed his speed and defensive strengths by outlasting Federer in a long rally. The reprieve was brief and Federer broke again to lead 4-2.
He was serving for the match when Nishikori earned his first break-point chance, which Federer saved with a powerful serve.
Federer took his first match point with an overhead smash at the net as Nishikori scurried to field shots deep beyond the baseline.
Federer showed the full range of his shot-making to school the 32nd-ranked Japanese, who stunned top-ranked Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.
"He was too good for me today," said the 21-year-old Nishikori. "I tried to do my best but he wouldn't let me."
Federer won for the fifth time in six years at Basel, where he once worked as a ballboy.
Federer's 68th career title was just his second this season.
He won the season-opening event in Doha, Qatar, and had not reached a final since losing the French Open to Rafael Nadal in June.
Now ranked No 4 at age 30, Federer was playing his first event as a player ranked outside the top three since he won his first Wimbledon title in 2003.
Nishikori started brightly on his own serve but Federer broke after reeling off three straight winners.
Federer dropped just one point on his own serve in the first set. He repeatedly pressured Nishikori's serve and took the set on his opponent's double fault.
Nishikori fended off break point chances to hold serve early in the second, then showed his speed and defensive strengths by outlasting Federer in a long rally. The reprieve was brief and Federer broke again to lead 4-2.
He was serving for the match when Nishikori earned his first break-point chance, which Federer saved with a powerful serve.
Federer took his first match point with an overhead smash at the net as Nishikori scurried to field shots deep beyond the baseline.
