Federer closes on 100th title with Dubai win over Fucsovics

● Swiss legend chasing Connors’ record ● Norrie beats Schwartzman in Mexico

Roger Federer is two wins away from his 100th career title after beating Marton Fucsovics 7-6 (6), 6-4 yesterday to reach the Dubai Championships semi-finals.

Federer faced two set points in the first-set tiebreaker but Fucsovics hit two forehands into the net to let the Swiss star take control.

Federer then wasted an early break in the second set but broke again for a 5-4 lead before serving out the match when Fucsovics sent a forehand return wide.

Federer, right, is looking to become only the second man in the professional era to reach 100 tour-level tournament tiles, joining Jimmy Connors, who won 109.

Seven of Federer’s previous 99 triumphs have come in Dubai.

He will face Borna Coric in the semi-finals after the Croat edged out Nikoloz Basilashvili 4-6, 6-2, 7-6.

The other semi-final will pit rising star Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece against French veteran Gael Monfils.

Tsitispas outlasted Hubert Hurkacz 7-6 (4), 6-7 (1), 6-1, while Monfils beat Ricardas Berankis 6-1, 6-7 (3), 6-2.

Both Tsitsipas and Monfils are coming off tournament wins in Europe last week and have a 1-1 head-to-head record.

“We’re both serving really well,” Tsitsipas said. “We have similar game style. I guess I’m a bit more aggressive than him, but he’s much faster.”

Britain’s Cameron Norrie upset No 4 seed Diego Schwartzman to claim a place in the quarter-finals of the Mexico Open.

The world No 64 was down an early break in the opening set, but fought back to force a tiebreak and put himself in the lead. The pair then traded breaks in the second, with the Argentinian eventually claiming the edge to draw level, but it was Norrie who came out on top in the decider to seal a 7-6 (5), 4-6, 6-3 win. The Briton will face Mackenzie Mcdonald in the quarter-finals. Rafael Nadal tumbled out in Mexico, squandering three match points in a 3-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (6) loss to Australia’s Nick Kyrgios. Johanna Konta claimed a spot in the last eight in Acapulco by defeating Varvara Flink in straight sets.

The No 8 seed dominated from the off, breaking her opponent in the first game of the match, before clinching a 6-4 6-1 win. Third three seed Donna Vekic will be her opponent in the quarter-finals.

Britain’s Katie Boulter did not fare as well, as she was forced to retire from her second-round match. The 22-year-old had been trailing Sonya Kenin 6-4, 4-1.

Kyle Edmund posted his first win of 2019 by beating Tommy Robredo 6-4, 6-4 in the second round of the Oracle Challenger Series at Indian Wells.