Basle (Switzerland), Nov 8 (DPA) Roger Federer returned to championship status at his home Swiss Indoors Sunday, beating Novak Djokovic 6-4, 3-6, 6-1 to avenge a finals defeat a year ago against the Serb.

The fourth Basle trophy marked the 65th of a brilliant career for the world number two and moves him into fourth on the all-time list of title winners.

The 29-year-old pulled level on 64 with Pete Sampras with a third trophy this season in Stockholm last month.

The Basle triumph came in Federer's fifth consecutive final at the St. Jakobshalle, where he got his start in the game as a ballboy nearly two decades ago. Watching in the stands were his family, including his parents, sister, wife Mirka and the couple's tiny twin girls, 14 months old.

"I've played really well all week long," said the Swiss, who made a clean sweep without dropping a set. "It was a fantastic week, I played well from start to finish."

"It was not a huge surprise that I did well again here. But the final was the most dangerous of the week, especially playing Novak. But I was able to pull away in the third set."

Federer thrilled a partisan hometown crowd of 9,000 as he overcame one of his main rivals in just under two hours, breaking Djokovic twice in the final set and going through to victory on the first of three match points with a backhand winner to the empty court.

"I lost a bit of focus and there was suddenly no way back from 5-1 down," said Djokovic, building up the last fortnight of a long season for the December 3-5 Davis Cup final in Belgrade against France, biggest date by far on the 2010 tennis calendar for the nation's players.

"You don't get many chances against Roger when he's on top of you. I was disappointed with that set but it was otherwise a good week."

"I got to the final without losing a set. I feel well and didn't lose too much energy. I'll just go to Paris and try to do as well as I can. It is time to turn a new page even if there is little time to rest."

Federer's post-US Open campaign appears to be going well to plan, with two titles from as many events and two more to go.

"It is even more special to win again at home," said Federer. "I had a super week and a tough final to play. It's always tough to play Novak."

"We've met so many times and he knows my game and how to beat me. He had a great week here."

Federer will pace the field as top seed at the Paris Masters starting Monday as Rafael Nadal is out with injury with Djokovic on the second seeding.

The Swiss, 12-6 over Djokovic overall, has won three of their four meetings. The Serb beat him in a US Open semi-final just over two months ago.

Federer's win was his 57th of the season against a dozen defeats.

"Roger deserved to win, he was the better player today," said Djokovic, who was undefeated 9-0 in Basle prior to the final.

"I have to look at the positive side. Having great rivals like Roger and Rafa makes me try to improve."

Djokovic goes to Paris with two titles this season in Dubai and Beijing, having won at least 50 matches in a season for a fourth straight year.