Olympics fan Federer in final
ROTTERDAM: Roger Federer celebrated becoming the oldest man to reach the world No.1 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 Olympics.
The 36-year-old Federer racked up his 14th win from 15 matches with 33-year-old Seppi, the world No.81 who had enjoyed a memorable week in the Dutch port city by reaching the semi-finals as a ‘lucky loser’.
Top-seeded Federer was to face Grigor Dimitrov in later yesterday’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 at the time. 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 showdown which could result in a 97th career trophy.
“I felt OK today, 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, also dropped a big hint that he still might play the Dubai tournament, which begins a week from today.
The seven-time winner of the Gulf tournament said that he will take a decision later in the week one way or the other.
“It’s still open,” he said.
KVITOVA POWERS THROUGH
Petra Kvitova came from a set down to beat world No.1 Caroline Wozniacki on Saturday 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 later yesterday.
It will be Kvitova’s second final this month, after already winning in St Petersburg.
Currently the world No.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 10 in the rankings.
“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 a jubilant Kvitova afterwards about her comeback.
Muguruza had a day’s rest on Saturday, receiving a bye in the semi-final after opponent Simona Halep withdrew because of injury.
ANDERSON ENDS NISHIKORI RUN
South Africa’s Kevin Anderson ended Kei Nishikori’s hopes of a comeback victory on Saturday at the New York Open, beating the Japanese fifth seed in three sets in Long Island.
Top seed Anderson downed Nishikori 6-1, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4) in a gruelling 2hr 11min semi-final and will now play America’s Sam Querrey in Sunday’s final.
Nishikori had been chasing a first ATP Tour victory after returning from a fivemonth injury lay-off.
Earlier, Querrey ended his long wait for a first victory over France’s Adrian Mannarino to book his place in the final.
Second seed Querrey, who had lost all three of his previous meetings with the fourth-seeded Mannarino, came from behind to win 6-7 (5/7), 7-5, 6-3 to the delight of the home fans.