Tennis News • Roger Federer Takes His 100th Title With His Victory Over Tsitsipas in Dubai

Roger Federer of Switzerland poses with his trophy after defeating Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece in their final match at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis ATP Championships 2019 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 02 March 2019. EPA-EFE/ALI HAIDER

 

 

By Ricky Dimon

 

Roger Federer accomplished two significant feats at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships–all in a day’s work on Sunday evening.

 

Federer avenged an Australian Open loss to Stefanos Tsitsipas and–even more importantly–captured the 100th title of his illustrious career by prevailing 6-4, 6-4 in the Dubai final. The 37-year-old Swiss struck six aces without double-faulting a single time and served at 76 percent while triumphing in one hour and nine minutes.

 

“It’s been a long, wonderful journey; I have loved every minute,” Federer assured. “It’s been tough, but the sacrifice has been very, very worthwhile and we’ll see how much more I’ve got left in the tank. Reaching 100 is an absolute dream come true for me.”

 

The No. 2 seed had plenty left in the tank for Sunday’s final despite needing three sets in his first two matches against Philipp Kohlschreiber and Fernando Verdasco. He picked up the pace considerably in straight-set defeats of Marton Fucsovics and Borna Coric, thus setting himself up nicely to face Tsitsipas. The 20-year-old Greek, on the other hand, had just won a title in Marseille and was coming off consecutive three-set battles with Hubert Hurkacz and Gael Monfils.

 

Tsitsipas never managed to be competitive in this one. He donated an early break in the opening set and it was all but over when he dropped serve at 4-4 in the second with a netted forehand. Federer served things out in typically swift fashion one game later to sail across the finish line and get his hands on an eighth ship (that is the Dubai trophy).

 

“I played the right way,” Federer explained, “Things happened fast. (In) best-of-three-set tennis on a fast court against somebody like Stefanos, who also likes to take the ball early, I tried to be very aggressive myself and it worked out. I got off on a flyer in the beginning and never looked back. In the second set, I think I was overall maybe able to create a few more chances. I just felt good in defense, good in offense, good on the serve; that’s a good combination to win.”

 

“He was very aggressive; didn’t give me any time today,” Tsitsipas said. “I was expecting it–for him to be a little more aggressive (than he was in Melbourne). He just seemed like he was having control over everything he was doing, taking the ball super early, on the rise, giving me no time to prepare. It was a very fast-tempo game. It felt like he was controlling everything on his own terms.”

 

Both Federer and Tsitsipas–and everyone else–now head to Indian Wells for the first Masters 1000 tournament of the season.

 

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand. You can follow him on twitter at @Dimonator.