Olympics fan Federer on top of the world, in Rotterdam final
DIFFERENT STROKES Newly crowned world No 1 Swiss stayed up till morning to watch the Pyeongchang Winter Games ROTTERDAM: DOHA: It’s not been a tough week physically, maybe a bit harder emotionally. I hope to play one more good match.
Roger Federer celebrated becoming the oldest man to reach the world number one ranking by making the Rotterdam Open final on Saturday with a 6-3, 7-6 (7/3) victory over Italy’s Andreas Seppi despite losing sleep watching early-morning coverage of the Winter Games.
The 36-year-old Federer racked up his 14th win from 15 matches with 33-year-old Seppi, the world number 81 who had enjoyed a memorable week in the Dutch port city by reaching the semi-finals as a ‘lucky loser’.
Top-seeded Federer will face Grigor Dimitrov in Sunday’s final. Dimitrov, the second seed, advanced to the semi-finals when Belgian opponent David Goffin was forced to retire after injuring his eye when the ball flew off his own racquet. Dimitrov was leading 6-3, 0-1.
Federer said that despite not getting much sleep due to the excitement of his latest achievement — and draining more energy by watching the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics in the pre-dawn hours — he expects to be fighting fit for his final showdown which could result in a 97th career trophy. “I felt OK, maybe a bit heavy on court but I was aggressive,” the 20-time Grand Slam title winner said.
“I started finding energy midway through the first set, but the start was tough.”
The two-time Rotterdam champion, who guaranteed a return to the world top spot by seeing off Robin Haase in the quarter-finals on Friday, added that he will be ready to go for his first afternoon match of the week after playing the night showcase slots. “I’m good, it’s not been a tough week physically, maybe a bit harder emotionally,” he added. “I hope to play one more good match and that’s it for the week.”
Despite enjoying a 6-0 career stranglehold over Dimitrov, with their last meeting in the 2017 Wimbledon fourth round, the top seed will not take anything for granted. “I know him very well, he had an incredible year last season, winning London (the World Tour Finals) and Cincinnati. He’s beaten some good players and started this year solid.
“This has to be a week where he wants to win this tournament. I’ll try my best and hope it’s enough,” said Federer.
KVITOVA IN FINAL
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 C WOZNIACKI, after her loss
could go back into the top ten. “I don’t know what happened. I just came to play and I was crazy a little bit in my mind and I was playing it everywhere,” said Kvitova.
She hit 50 winners and her victory was the third she has recorded this week over a top 10. Her winning streak is now the second longest of her career and only two short of her best.
FEDERER, after staying up late to watch the Winter Games coverage Disappointing when I had a chance to serve it out twice in that second set. She (Kvitova) played aggressively and I made a few unforced errors and I felt that was frustrating.