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Home , David Goffin

42 Friday Sports Friday, February 16, 2018 Quickfire Federer two wins from oldest number one spot and David Goffin advance

ROTTERDAM: delivered a “My start will be crucial, I need to stay fo- crushing 6-1, 6-2 defeat of cused all the way. Any lapses can get you into in just 47 minutes on Wednesday as the Swiss trouble.” star moved just two wins away from becoming Third seed fell in an upset the sport’s oldest world number one. The 36- to qualifying of Italy, year-old top seed, a two-time champion at the 6-4, 6-3 in the second round to open up Fed- Dutch indoor event, needs to reach the semi- erer’s half of the draw. finals to take back the number one spot from Grigor Dimitrov and David Goffin, the duo . With two more victories, Federer who faced off in last year’s season-ending ATP would become the oldest man by three years Finals, both advanced with straight-sets wins. to hold the top position in the rankings. “It’s Second seed Dimitrov, who beat Belgian very surprising how good things went today,” fourth seed Goffin in the London final last No- Federer said. “The key is to start well, put him vember, had to fight back in the second set to under pressure. defeat Japan’s Yuichi Sugita 6-4, 7-6 (7/5) in “I wanted to make him think he had to do their first-round encounter. something special to beat me. I did well there, Goffin made light work of veteran Spaniard I felt good, I’m healthy and I’m confident. It Feliciano Lopez, cruising through 6-1, 6-3 to was a great first round for me.” Federer gave reach the quarter-finals. no quarter as he raced to a 5-0 lead, with the Dimitrov won the opening set against ROTTERDAM: Switzerland’s Roger Federer plays a forehand return during his men’s singles match against Ruben out-matched Bemelmans winning his first game Sugita but fell behind a break in the second Bemelmans from in the first round of the ABN AMRO World Tournament in Rotterdam. —AFP after 16 minutes. before levelling for 5-all. As the set went into The outcome was never in doubt as Federer a tie-break, the Bulgarian surged ahead as he dominated with six aces and four service took a 5-2 lead but had to hold off his oppo- weeks. “I was trying to find rhythm. I faced a pellier finalist, retired with a groin injury trail- breaks, winning an impressive 21 of 23 first- nent as Sugita clawed back to within a point of quality player and I’m happy with how things ing 3-1. serve points in the demolition. The 20-time levelling. went for me today-I was pain-free in my shoul- Pouille lost in 93 minutes, hitting a dozen champion on Thursday takes on Dimitrov then sent a forehand into the cor- der.” Last weekend’s Montpellier champion aces in defeat but losing serve four times. German , against whom ner to earn a pair of match points and ad- exited in his opening match, los- The 34th-ranked Rublev owns his only ca- he stands 12-0 in career meetings. vanced on his second with a service winner to ing 7-5, 6-4 to . reer title from Umag last summer on clay. Her- “You always prefer to play the guy whose end the resistance of the 41st-ranked Sugita. The Russian was joined in the second round bert will play Russian in the game you know,” Federer said. “You know his “It was my first match in three weeks, and at the Ahoy Arena by Pierre-Hugues Herbert second round. patterns, it’s nice to play someone like that, you you’re always a little rusty,” said Dimitrov who of France, who advanced after just 15 minutes won an all-Dutch affair over know what to expect. has been dealing with a sore shoulder in recent when compatriot , the Mont- Thiemo de Bakker 6-2, 6-2. —AFP McIlroy relishes Ko leads Australian chance to play Open by two shots alongside Tiger LOS ANGELES: Rory McIlroy is bracing for ADELAIDE: South Korea’s Ko Jin-young fired a nine-birdie the bustle that comes with a Tiger Woods pair- opening round of 65 to lead the women’s by ing, but said the chance to play with a golfer he two shots at Kooyonga in Adelaide yesterday. still considers a hero is worth it. Ko, 22, the world number 20 and a winner of 10 tourna- “I wouldn’t have minded a nice quiet couple ments on the Korean tour, reached the turn at three-under of days, today and tomorrow,” McIlroy admit- and rolled in six more birdies on the back nine to gather in a ted, but added: “Anytime you have a chance to cluster of players who had held the lead at four-under. Ko play in a group like that you relish it and em- joined the lead with a birdie at the 16th, birdied again to lead brace it.” outright at the 17th before repeating the performance at the McIlroy and Woods will tee it up with Justin 18th to lead by two strokes at seven under. Thomas-a five-time winner on the US PGA She had nine birdies for the day, two bogeys and shredded PACIFIC PALISADES: Tiger Woods hits a shot during the Pro-Am of the Genesis Open at the Riviera Country Club in Tour last season-in the first and second rounds Pacific Palisades, California. —AFP the more difficult back nine in 31 shots, with five birdies in the of the Genesis Open at Riviera Country Club. last six holes. Among those on four-under was former world For 14-time major champion Woods, it’s the number one Lydia Ko, who has been under fire for making next step in a return from injury that he hopes ited manufacturer TaylorMade in Carlsbad, viously, results wise last week at least wasn’t another series of changes to her team in the off-season, but will soon see him contending again. California, on Monday, where he picked up a what I wanted, but I still saw a lot of good stuff played brilliantly for a bogey-free round. Ko Jin-young leads McIlroy, owner of four major titles, had his new putter. in there.” 2013 Open champion and compatriot Jiyai Shin, who followed own injury troubles last year and is out to end “The great thing about golf, every week you He’ll be hoping it’s on display again amid the up her win in Canberra last week with a five-under par 67. a 16-month victory drought. He made his start everyone’s level again and you get to go hoopla surrounding Woods-who will draw Two other major winners-American Mo Martin and Ko- Stateside debut last week at Pebble Beach, again and work on things,” said McIlroy, who massive, often restless galleries. While the con- rean Yoo Sun-young-as well as 17-year-old Japanese ama- where a balky putter saw him miss the cut by moved back into the top 10 in the world rank- stant movement and noise can be a distraction, teur Suzuka Yamaguchi, a recent Australian Amateur two strokes. ings after a runner-up finish in the Dubai McIlroy said he didn’t mind. champion, are in the group at four-under par. Ko, the 20- “I had a bit of wobble on the greens on Fri- Desert Classic in January. “I would rather be in this group than year-old New Zealander, has again switched to another day, but I didn’t put that down to anything more “I still view the start of the season to be not,” McIlroy said. “Whenever you get a coach and caddie and has had 11 caddies since turning pro than just surfaces weren’t ideal and I let it get quite good for me in terms of what I’ve done chance to play alongside one of your heroes five years ago. —AFP into my head a little bit,” McIlroy said. He vis- and the progress I’ve made on my game. “Ob- it’s always nice.” —AFP