22 Monday, February 19, 2018 SPORTS

Rotterdam oger Federer marked his impending return to the top of the world rankingsR by sweeping aside second seed in the Open final. The 20-time Grand Slam champion, who will be confirmed as world number one yesterday, beat world number five Dimitrov 6-2-6-2 for his 97th title. The Bulgarian was broken in the fifth game, then on three more occasions as Federer won comfortably in 55 minutes. “The goal at start of week was to make Federer it to the semi-finals,” Federer said. “It’s unbelievable to be number one again. This is one of the best weeks of my life.” “I had a great first match and a great last match. In between it was a battle, it was nerve-wracking, but I was able to manage my nerves and the expectations.” It is the third time Switzerland’s lifts Federer has won the Rotterdam event, and it takes him to within 12 titles of American , who holds the Open-era record of 109. Federer first became world number one in February 2004, but has not topped the rankings since October 2012 and slipped to a low of 17th in January 2017. That was after he spent six months Rotterdam out recovering from an operation on a knee problem. However, he has since won eight titles, including Wimbledon last year and two Australian Opens. (BBC) title Dabrowski, Ostapenko Kvitova capture doubles crown clinches Gabriela Dabrowski and Jelena Ostapenko Qatar open title

Doha played eight matches as a pair prior to laying just their fourth tournament this week, but have been upending more together, Gabriela Dabrowski and established teams all week with their PJelena Ostapenko captured their first title as naturally balanced blend of Ostapenko’s Doha feeling to be back,” said set, with three break points a team with a 6-3, 6-3 defeat of No.8 seeds power and Dabrowski’s finesse and all- etra Kvitova will return the world number 21. in the four game, but could Andreja Klepac and María José Martínez court instincts. to the world’s top 10 “I remember sometime not capitalise and Kvitova Sánchez in the final of the Qatar Total The pattern continued in the first Pafter recording her 13th last year when I was asked seized control to claim the Open. set: after staving off a break point in the consecutive victory by about this, I couldn’t even title. It was Kvitova’s fourth For Dabrowski, it marked her seventh opening game with an Ostapenko ace, the beating Garbine Muguruza dream of it.” win over a top-10 player career doubles title and second of the pair did not face another for the remainder to win the Qatar Open title. It also seemed unlikely in Doha this week, after year following Sydney, alongside Xu of the set. The Czech 16th seed after Kvitova lost the first victories against Caroline Yifan; in addition, the Canadian is fresh Long-time doubles specialists Klepac came from a set down five games of the match, Wozniacki, Julia Goerges off the Australian Open mixed doubles and Martínez Sánchez reached deep into in Doha to win 3-6 6-3 then coughed up break and Elina Svitolina. crown (with Mate Pavic) and the Roland their bag of tricks to try to destabilise 6-4 for her second title of points in three separate And that was despite Garros mixed doubles holder (with Rohan their opponents, with the Spaniard 2018 after triumphing in St services games in the spending almost twice as Petra Kvitova Bopanna). frequently finding success with deft touch Petersburg two weeks ago. second set. long on court in Doha as celebrates Ostapenko, meanwhile, maintained volleys. Kvitova, 27 is continuing However, Muguruza Muguruza, who received victory an unbeaten record in doubles finals to Her repeated attempts to confound her comeback following could not convert and a first-round bye and (Pic courtesy: claim her third title with as many partners, Ostapenko with flicked forehand slice six months out after a Kvitova broke the Spaniard benefited from a semi-final Xinhua) following St. Petersburg and Stüttgart last returns were less successful, though, merely knife attack at her home in to edge ahead 4-2. The walkover after Simona year with Alicja Rosolska and Raquel Atawo giving the 20-year-old time to conjure up December 2016. world number four had Halep’s withdrawal. respectively. lobs or hammer crosscourt groundstrokes “It’s a very special chances again in the third (Wtatennis) The Canadian-Latvian duo had only at will. (Wtatennis)