Roger Federer wins 100th ATP title in Dubai

[Abdullah719]

Roger Federer has won his 100th ATP Tour title at the Dubai Tennis Championships - 6,600 days after winning his first in Milan.

The 37-year-old Swiss - a 20-time Grand Slam champion - beat Greece's Stefanos Tsitsipas 6-4 6-4.

Federer's first ATP title came at the Milan Indoors on 4 February, 2001, when he beat Frenchman Julien Boutter.

"It is an absolute dream come true right now," said Federer, who will become world number four on Monday.

He is just the second man, after American Jimmy Connors in 1983, to reach the landmark.

"I'm delighted. It's great to win my eighth here in Dubai and in combination with my 100th singles title," he added.

"To win in Marseille and then come here was difficult for Stefanos.

"I don't know if Stefanos was born when I won my first title (he was, in August 1998). It's a privilege [to play against possible future champions] because I'll be watching them on the TV. It was a treat to play Pete Sampras and Andre Agassi. I'm sure Stefanos will have a wonderful career.

"Tennis is in good hands regardless if I'm there or not."

Federer broke Tsitsipas, 20, in the first game of the match before saving two break points at 5-4 to see out the first set.

The Greek - who will break into the world top 10 for the first time on Monday - held his nerve in the second set until 4-4, before Federer broke his serve once again to wrap up the final in 69 minutes.

World number 11 Tsitsipas was Federer's 50th different final opponent and the 25th different nationality.

It was only the second time the pair had met, with Tsitsipas beating Federer in four sets in the Australian Open last 16 in January.

Federer will have to win 10 more titles to beat Connors' men's record of 109, while Martina Navratilova holds the all-time record having won 167 women's singles crowns during her career.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/47428945

 

[Haroon786]

Goat!

 

[MenInG]

Roger Federer will miss his fourth French Open in the last five years after having knee surgery on Wednesday.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee - which had been "bothering him for a little while" - in Switzerland.

Federer, who won his only Roland Garros title in 2009, said doctors were "very confident of a full recovery".

"After the procedure, the doctors confirmed it was the right thing to have done," the 38-year-old said.

In addition to the French Open, which takes place from 24 May-7 June, Federer will also miss the tournaments in Dubai, Indian Wells, Bogota and Miami.

Federer reached the semi-finals last year in his first appearance on the Paris clay since 2015.

"See you on the grass!" added the eight-time Wimbledon champion, who was knocked out of last month's Australian Open in the semi-finals by Novak Djokovic.

Spain's Rafael Nadal will be looking to win his 13th French Open title, which would see him draw level with Federer on 20 Grand Slams.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/51571497

 

[MenInG]

Roger Federer will miss the rest of the 2020 season after having a further operation on his right knee.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner had the initial arthroscopic surgery in February but said he suffered a "setback" with his rehabilitation.

Professional tennis has been suspended since March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"I will look forward to seeing everyone back on tour at the start of the 2021 season." the 38-year-old Swiss said.

Federer has not played since losing to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open semi-finals in January.

In 2016 he missed the majority of the season with a knee injury, but returned the following year to win the Australian Open and Wimbledon.

"A few weeks ago, having experienced a setback during my initial rehabilitation, I had to have an additional quick arthroscopic procedure on my right knee," Federer said on Twitter on Wednesday.

"Now, much like I did leading up to the 2017 season, I plan to take the necessary time to be 100% ready to play at my highest level."

The ATP Tour is currently shut down until at least the end of July because of the pandemic, with the US Open currently scheduled to start on 31 August and the French Open beginning on 20 September.

Analysis
BBC tennis correspondent Russell Fuller

There will be worse years to miss through injury, although Federer will now be well into his 40th year the next time he walks out to compete.

He would have been very much an outsider at this year's delayed French Open anyway, and has struggled in recent years in the humidity of New York, where the US Open is still hoping to be staged.

Travelling on tour with a family may also prove far less appealing, and even impractical, with so many Covid-19 restrictions still in place.

But Federer's chances of overtaking American Jimmy Connors' record 109 titles will be affected. He currently has 103 to his name.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/tennis/52991140

 

[Firebat]

 

[SpiritOf1903]

I expect a rejuvenated goat like 2017.

 

[Firebat]

Just clearing the way for Djokovic to dominate the rest of this year. Sad that it seems like the golden era of tennis is slowly coming to an end.

 

[MenInG]

Roger Federer is withdrawing from the Australian Open while he continues preparing to return to action after two operations on his right knee, his agent has announced.

Tony Godsick — Federer’s long-time representative and CEO of their management company, TEAM8 — said he is working on putting together a 2021 tennis calendar for the 20-time grand slam champion, who plans to get back on tour soon after the year’s first major tennis tournament.

“Roger has decided not to play the 2021 Australian Open. He has made strong progress in the last couple of months with his knee and his fitness. However, after consultation with his team, he decided that the best decision for him in the long run is to return to competitive tennis after the Australian Open,” Godsick said in a statement sent to the Associated Press.