Federer cruises to Rotterdam title, three short of bagging a ton
Newly crowned world No 1 Swiss needs just 55 minutes to beat Dimitrov, says end of a fantastic week
ROTTERDAM: Roger Federer celebrated his return to the top of the world rankings by winning the Rotterdam Open on Sunday, his 97th career title. The 36-year-old, the oldest No.1 in history, thrashed Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov 6-2, 6-2 in a one-sided final.
In the Open era, only American Jimmy Connors has won more titles with 109. “What a fantastic week,” the top seed said. “The goal at start of week was to make it to the semi-finals. This is absolutely amazing, I’m really pleased.”
Federer, the record 20-time Grand Slam winner, will reclaim the number one ranking he last held in October 2012 when the new ATP rankings are published on Monday. He has played two tournaments this year and won both — the other being January’s Australian Open.
THIRD TITLE
He is three years older than American Andre Agassi was when previously holding the record for oldest No.1 back in 2003. This was his third title in Rotterdam following successes in 2005 and 2012 and he now stands 12-0 for the season.
The iconic Swiss star needed just 55 minutes to dispatch Dimitrov who looked to be undercooked in the quickfire final.
Federer now stands a perfect 7-0 over the Bulgarian in their head-to-head series. Two breaks per set were enough for Federer to advance to the trophy.
Federer will now decide within a few days whether or not to travel to Dubai for the ATP event starting a week from Monday.
KVITOVA IN FINAL
DOHA: Petra Kvitova came from a set down to beat world number one Caroline Wozniacki to record her 12th successive victory and advance to the Qatar Open final. The Czech star won 3-6, 7-6 (7/3), 7-5 to set up a final against Spain’s Garbine Muguruza. It will be Kvitova’s second final this month, after already winning in St Petersburg.
Currently the world number 21, the final in Doha also underlines her push to get back to the elite of the women’s game following a horrific knife attack at her home 14 months ago.
If she wins the final, Kvitova could go back into the top ten.
ANDERSON IN FINAL
NEWYORK: Kevin Anderson gatecrashed Kei Nishikori’s comeback party by blasting 23 aces on his way to a tight 6-1 3-6 7-6(4) semi-final victory at the New York Open on Saturday. The top seeded South African advanced to meet second seed Sam Querrey in Sunday’s final after the big-serving American edged Frenchman Adrian Mannarino 6-7(5) 7-5 6-3 in the other semi-final. Japan’s Nishikori, in his first tour-level event since incurring a torn tendon in his right wrist last August, swept through his first three matches dropping only one set, but found Anderson was made of sterner stuff.
DUBAI OPEN
DUBAI: World No 3 Elina Svitolina will join Venus Williams and Justine Henin as the only backto-back champion in Dubai if she defends her title. The 23-year-old Ukrainian is the top seed at the meet which will be missing topranked Caroline Wozniacki, Simona Halep,victoria Azarenka and Maria Sharapova.