Federer back on top of world as Konta clicks
ROGER Federer will return to the top of the world rankings after battling through to the Mercedes Cup final in Stuttgart.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner recovered from losing the opening set to beat Australia’s Nick Kyrgios 6-7, 6-2, 7-6. The Swiss, 36, will now overtake Spanish rival Rafael Nadal to become the world No 1 when the new rankings are released tomorrow. He will face Milos Raonic in today’s final after the Canadian beat defending champion Lucas Pouille 6-4, 7-6.
Victory against the world No 35 will give him a 98th career title. It is the third time Federer has reached the top of the rankings this season. He has already achieved 309 weeks as No 1 since February 2004.
Meanwhile, Johanna Konta overcame a rain delay to secure her place in the final of the Nature Valley Open in Nottingham for the second successive year with a 6-2, 6-3, straight-sets victory against Donna Vekic.
The British No 1 breezed through the opening set in half an hour before the players were forced off by rain, with Vekic looking ready to go for treatment. After around an hour delay, Konta, defeated by Vekic in the 2017 final, regained her composure to break twice and close out the match.
Top seed Ashleigh Barty awaits in today’s final after the Australian beat Japan’s Naomi Osaka 6-3, 6-4.
Meanwhile, at the Libema Open in Hertogenbosch, Britain’s Dominic Inglot claimed his third doubles title of the year. He and Croatia’s Franko Skugor beat Raven Klaasen and Michael Venus 7-6, 7-5 to take the title.