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Federer oldest ATP world No. 1

February 17, 2018
TOPSHOT - Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates after victory over Netherlands Robin Haase in their quarter-final singles tennis match for the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam on February 16, 2018.  / AFP / JOHN THYS
TOPSHOT - Switzerland's Roger Federer celebrates after victory over Netherlands Robin Haase in their quarter-final singles tennis match for the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam on February 16, 2018. / AFP / JOHN THYS

ROTTERDAM — Roger Federer added yet another record to his vast collection when he guaranteed becoming the oldest ATP world No. 1 by beating Dutchman Robin Haase 4-6, 6-1, 6-1 to reach the semifinals here Friday.

Fresh from winning his 20th Grand Slam title in Melbourne this month, Federer took a wildcard into the ABN AMRO World Tennis event with his eyes fixed on a return to No. 1 for the first time since November 2012.

Needing to reach the last four to overtake great rival Rafael Nadal, Federer showed some early nerves in his quarterfinal clash in the port city’s Ahoy Arena, dropping serve in the ninth game on his way to conceding the first set.

But the 36-year-old Swiss, as he usually does, moved through the gears to punish a physically struggling Haase.

A demoralized Haase double-faulted on match point and after an initially restrained celebration Federer sat on his chair and looked close to tears as his feat sank in — as did some of the Swiss fans leading the rapturous applause.

“Reaching No. 1 is one of, if not the ultimate achievement in our sport,” Federer said on court after being handed a huge No.1 shaped plaque by Dutch former Wimbledon champion Richard Krajicek, the tournament director.

“Sometimes at the beginning you just kind of get there because you played so well, but later you have to fight for it and have to wrestle it back from someone who deserves to be there. When you are older you maybe have to put double the work in. This maybe means the most to me in my career.”

Federer, whose glittering career has re-ignited since taking six months off in 2016, has won three of the last five Grand Slams having gone five years without one.

One of the greatest ever late-career runs by any sportsman or woman means he surpasses Andre Agassi who was the previous oldest man to top the ATP rankings.

American Agassi was 33 when he scaled the summit in 2003.

He was one of the first to congratulate Federer.

“Roger Federer continues to raise the bar in our sport. Congratulations on yet another remarkable achievement!!” Agassi said on Twitter.

Federer also set another record with the more than five-year gap between his previous and most recent stints as world No. 1 being the longest since ATP rankings began in 1973.

Incredibly Federer first reached No. 1 in 2004, as a 22-year-old, and having now returned there 14 years later playing some of the best tennis of his career, he looks capable of another lengthy stretch on the throne.

He already holds the record of 302 weeks ranked No. 1.

On his Instagram account later, Federer said: “A night to remember forever. Thank you to all my fans who have been there for me since the beginning.”

The journey continues Saturday when Federer faces Italian Andreas Seppi in the semifinal with a 97th career title in sight. Seppi beat Russian Daniil Medvedev in three sets.

The other semifinal will feature Bulgaria’s Grigor Dimitrov and Belgian David Goffin. Dimitrov beat Andrey Rublev while Goffin was given a walkover by injured Czech Tomas Berdych.

Thiem in semifinals

Top-seeded Dominic Thiem of Austria beat Guido Pella of Argentina 7-6 (6), 6-4 Friday to reach the Argentina Open semifinals.

The sixth-ranked Thiem, the only seeded player left in the clay-court tournament, will face France’s Gael Monfils Saturday. Monfils beat Argentina’s Leonardo Mayer 6-4, 3-6, 6-3

Slovenia’s Aljaz Bedene will face Argentina’s Federico Delbonis in the other semifinal. Bedene beat fifth-seeded Diego Schwartzman of Argentina 6-4, 6-4, and Delbonis topped Spain’s Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3, 7-5.

Nishikori in last four

Kei Nishikori edged closer to a first ATP Tour in two years at the New York Open Friday after coming from behind to defeat Moldova’s Radu Albot and claim a semifinal berth.

The Japanese fifth seed, who is on his way back from a five-month injury layoff, recovered from dropping the opening set to defeat Albot 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in Long Island.

Nishikori will now play top seed Kevin Anderson of South Africa in the last four.

Anderson progressed after downing American Frances Tiafoe 6-3, 5-7, 6-4.

In the other side of the draw, second seed Sam Querrey delighted the home fans after bundling out big-serving Croatian veteran Ivo Karlovic in straight sets, winning 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (7/4).

Querrey will now face France’s Adrian Mannarino in the semifinals Saturday. Mannarino advanced to the last four after defeating Spain’s Adrian Menendez-Maceiras 7-5, 2-6, 6-3. — Agencies


February 17, 2018
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