WATCH: Chiudinelli plays final match with Federer on hand

Oct 24, 2017
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WATCH: Chiudinelli plays final match with Federer on hand

The 36-year-old called it a career in Basel.

Published Oct 24, 2017

It was an emotional farewell for Marco Chiudinelli as he played his final match in front of a home crowd in Basel on Monday. The finale would end up being a first-round defeat to Robin Haase.

A familiar face stood out in the supportive crowd—fellow 36-year-old Swiss Roger Federer.

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Chiudinelli was a longtime member of the Davis Cup team. He appeared in 18 ties, including in 2014 when Switzerland claimed the country's first and only Davis Cup title. That year, he helped clam a doubles victory in the first round against Serbia.

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The world No. 366-ranked Swiss also played in that winning season's semifinal tie versus Italy.

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Other Davis Cup highlights included a seven-hour doubles loss to the Czech Republic alongside Stan Wawrinka in 2013—the longest Davis Cup doubles match in history. Chiudinelli also teamed up with his childhood friend Federer a few times.

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Outside of Davis Cup action, Chiudinelli reached the final of Halle with Federer in 2014, but they lost despite holding championship points.

Chiudinelli has reached two other doubles finals and won one career doubles ATP crown (in Gstaad with Michael Lammer).

It was difficult for Chiudinelli to get through singles qualifying tournaments over the years, but he managed to compile a 52-98 singles record with a career-high of No. 51 in 2010. Since turning pro in 2000, Chiudinelli has won three singles and six doubles ATP Challenger crowns, as well as seven singles and six doubles ITF Futures titles. His best Grand Slam result was reaching the third round of the US Open in 2006 and 2009.

He named his 2009 Basel semifinal loss to Federer as his best memory (having played and lost to him twice in his career).

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Chiudinelli remained an ambassador for Swiss tennis, even though legendary shadows were cast over him by Federer and Wawrinka.

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Chiudinelli devoted over three decades of work to live his dream on tour, and emotions ran high when he hugged his box (and Federer) on Monday.

The moment was less a final career loss and more of a celebration.