FEDERER DELIVERS DUTCH GOLD IN ROTTERDAM

TENNIS: Roger Federer embellished his status as the new World No 1 by beating Grigor Dimitrov in just 55 minutes to claim the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament title in Rotterdam.

The Swiss (inset), who earlier this week confirmed his return to the top of the ATP world rankings at the age of 36, breezed past his Bulgarian opponent 6-2 6-2 on the way to his 97th tourlevel trophy.

Federer told www. atpworldtour.com: “It’s definitely one of those weeks

I will never forget in my life. It’s unbelievable to get my 97th title and get back to world number one. It’s very special.”

Federer, who had previously won in the Dutch city in 2005 and 2012, assumed control after breaking in the fifth game as Dimitrov made 13 unforced errors in the first set.

An immediate break in the second set him on the road to a comfortable victory and €401,580 prize money inside an hour.

In Doha, Petra Kvitova came from a set down to claim the Qatar Open title with a 13th successive victory.

The Czech 16th seed clinched a 3-6 6-3 6-4 win over Spain’s Garbine Muguruza, in the process winning a second title in three weeks and reclaiming her place in the top 10, having started the season ranked at 29. Third seed Muguruza raced into a 5-0 lead in the opening set as Kvitova, who had spent almost twice as long on court this week as her opponent, endured an error-strewn opening to the match. However, having finally eased her way into the match the 27-year-old took the second courtesy of a break in the sixth game and then powered her way through a gruelling third.