Roger Federer wins Rotterdam Open two days after becoming world No 1
Written by News on 20/02/2018
Roger Federer celebrated the regaining of his world No 1 ranking by winning the Rotterdam Open on Sunday.
He glided past Grigor Dimitrov 6-2 6-2 in the final, two days after becoming the oldest player to top the ATP rankings, aged 36.
Federer only needed to reach the tournament’s semi-final to seal a return to the status as world No 1, a record 14 years after he first did so, but completed a historic week by lifting the trophy.
World No 5 Dimitrov was never able to get close to the imperious Federer, who needed only 55 minutes to win the final for the concession of just four games.
Federer first broke to go 3-2 ahead in the opening set, then did so again after a brilliant sweeping shot down the line.
Dimitrov showed signs of an injury throughout the second set although he was able to break Federer’s serve, which was only a brief reprieve.
Federer dominated from thereon, whipping the ball from his base-line past Dimitrov, who was not at his most mobile.
The Rotterdam Open is Federer’s 97th career title, 12 short of Jimmy Connor’s all-time record. Federer’s 20th ATP 500 title is a record, one ahead of Rafael Nadal.
He entered the tournament as a wildcard and took advantage of Nadal’s absence, who was the world No 1 until Federer won his quarter-final on Friday.
He now enters his 304th combined week as the world No 1, which is another all-time record.
Federer began 2018 by winning the Australian Open but he may opt to skip the French Open for fitness reasons.
Top seed Dominic Thiem won his second Buenos Aires title in three years, laying down an early marker for the clay court season.
The 24-year-old Austrian coasted past Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene 6-2 6-4 in one hour and 31 minutes to extend his perfect record at the tournament, having captured the trophy also in 2016.
South African Kevin Anderson put aside memories of his disappointing US Open final when he dominated a third-set tie-break to win the New York Open with a 4-6 6-3 7-6 (7-1) victory over home hope Sam Querrey.
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(c) Sky News 2018: Roger Federer wins Rotterdam Open two days after becoming world No 1
