Federer marks No 1 rank with 98th title

STUTTGART: Roger Federer celebrated returning to the top of the world rankings by defeating Milos Raonic in the final of the Stuttgart Open on Sunday and lifting the 98th Tour-level title of his garlanded career.

The 36-year-old, who by reaching the final had already guaranteed his return to world No.1, supplanting Rafael Nadal when the new rankings are released on Monday, continued his domination over the Canadian with a 6-4 7-6(3) victory.

Federer’s 78-minute win, sealing his first Stuttgart triumph, was the perfect tonic for the Swiss in the build-up to defending his Wimbledon crown, having extended his unbeaten 12-month sequence in grass court matches to 16.

Federer, who beat Raonic en route to winning Wimbledon last year, broke the Canadian’s powerful serve just once in the third game but with his own delivery proving unbreachable, it was enough for him to win the first set.

In a decisive tiebreak after no breaks in the second set, a double fault from Raonic paved the way for Federer, playing his first tournament in 11 weeks after giving the claycourt campaign a miss, to claim victory.

On Monday, Federer will begin a record-extending 310th week at the top of the rankings before seeking to defend his Halle grasscourt crown. If he manages to do so, he will then seek a landmark 100th career title at Wimbledon.

RICHARD GASQUET WINS ALL-FRENCH FINAL

ROSMALEN: Richard Gasquet earned the first title of 2018 and 15th of his career after prevailing in an all-French battle with his friend Jeremy Chardy in the Libema Open final at s’Hertogenbosch, Rosmalen on Sunday.

The 31-year-old, who had not won a grass court title since the first two tournament wins of his career in Nottingham in 2005 and 2006, was at his best at the Dutch pre-Wimbledon tournament, wrapping up a 6-3, 7-6(5) victory.

Gasquet usually has Chardy’s measure, having won four of their previous five meetings, and again seemed to be in full control of the match with his Davis Cup colleague.