Federer takes 98th Tour title as he returns to top of rankings
Roger Federer celebrated returning to the top of the world rankings by defeating Milos Raonic in the final of the Stuttgart
Open yesterday 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 grasscourt matches to 16.
“It’s a great comeback for me,” said Federer, who was playing his first tournament after an 11-week break, having sidestepped the entire claycourt season.
“I’m really happy. I thought it was a good final from my side. I think I played very well throughout the tournament, actually, having not played for a while.”
Federer, who has won 15 successive matches on grass since being beaten in his opening match in Stuttgart last June, will begin a record-extending 310th week at the top today, his third stint at No. 1 this year as he and Nadal vie for supremacy.