22 Sunday, February 18, 2018 SPORTS Nishikori enters New York semis Federer New York as saying on the ATP Tour apan’s Kei Nishikori survived website. “During the second his toughest test since his set I started getting my rhythm returnJ to the ATP Tour, having back and started playing a little to come back from behind to more inside the baseline and beat Radu Albot 4-6 6-3 6-1 on everything started working Friday to reach the semi-final well... (I’m) very happy to win becomes of the New York Open. today.” Playing in his first ATP Nishikori will now face tournament since August, South African Kevin Anderson Nishikori had enjoyed straight who overcame American set victories in the first two Frances Tiafoe 6-3 5-7 6-4 in a rounds before dropping the two-hour battle. oldest first set to Albot. In earlier matches, second But the 28-year-old regained seed Sam Querrey topped momentum in the match Croatian Ivo Karlovic 7-6(5) by controlling his serve and 7-6(4). breaking Albot’s service six He will meet Adrian times. Mannarino in the other semi- “It was a very tough start. I final after Mannarino overcame world Roger think he was playing very good Spain’s Adrian Menendez- Federer (Pic tennis,” Nishikori was quoted Maceiras 7-5 2-6 6-3. (Reuters) courtesy: No.1 Reuters) Kei Nishikori plays a shot Rotterdam final clash in the port city’s Ahoy Arena, a huge No.1 shaped plaque by Dutch oger Federer added yet another dropping serve in the ninth game on his former Wimbledon champion Richard record to his vast collection when way to conceding the first set. Krajicek, the tournament director. heR guaranteed becoming the oldest ATP But the 36-year-old Swiss, as he usually “Sometimes at the beginning you just world number one by beating Dutchman does, moved through the gears to punish kind of get there because you played so Robin Haase 4-6 6-1 6-1 to reach the a physically struggling Haase. well, but later you have to fight for it and semi-finals in Rotterdam on Friday. A demoralised Haase double-faulted have to wrestle it back from someone Fresh from winning his 20th grand on match point and after an initially who deserves to be there. When you are slam title in Melbourne this month, restrained celebration Federer sat on older you maybe have to put double the Federer took a wildcard into the ABN his chair and looked close to tears work in. This maybe means the most to AMRO World Tennis event with his eyes as his feat sank in -- as did some of me in my career.” fixed on a return to number one for the the Swiss fans leading the rapturous Federer, whose glittering career has first time since November 2012. applause. re-ignited since taking six months off in Needing to reach the last four to “Reaching number one is one of, if not 2016, has won three of the last five grand overtake great rival Rafael Nadal, Federer the ultimate achievement in our sport,” slams having gone five years without showed some early nerves in his quarter- Federer said on court after being handed one. (Reuters) Halep Wozniacki survives Kerber Caroline Simona withdraws Doha Wozniaki of Halep of op seed Caroline Wozniacki defended her No.1 Denmark Romania Tranking with aplomb on Friday, fending off celebrates (PIc courtesy: from Doha former WTA World No.1 Angelique Kerber, 7-6(4), (Pic courtesy: Xinhua) 1-6, 6-3, to reach the semifinals of the Qatar Total Xinhua) Doha Open. orld No.2 Simona Halep “Angie is in such great shape, so I knew it would announced her withdrawal be an even playing field heading into the third set,” fromW the Qatar Total Open on Friday Wozniacki said during her on-court interview. “I evening due to a right foot injury. got a little bit lucky because I felt we both played The Romanian defeated American well for big periods of the match. I’m sure she’ll CiCi Bellis in the second quarterfinal have a great year going forward, but I’m happy I got earlier in the day, but announced the win today. her intention to withdraw from the Wozniacki captured her maiden major title and tournament in her late-evening press clinched a long-awaited return to No.1 over Simona conference. Halep in the finals of last month’s Australian Open, “I am surprised that I could play but Halep was in with a chance to reclaim the top three matches and to win them. I spot had she finished the week in Doha one round felt pain every day, so it was not farther than the Dane. Following Halep’s straight- easy to manage it,” she said. “I didn’t set win over Catherine “CiCi” Bellis, the Romanian have much time to recover before this was forced to withdraw due to the lingering foot tournament, but today was too much, injury she’s dealt with since Melbourne. and I decided to stop.” Still, Wozniacki needed to beat a resurgent Halep said that the foot injury was Kerber, a former Australian Open champion who the same one which plagued her run looks like she will very much be in the hunt for to the final of the Australian Open, the No.1 ranking as the season wears on, shaking and after consulting with doctors and off a disappointing 2017 to start 2018 with the having an MRI, she was making the Apia International Sydney title and a run to the decision to withdraw. (Wtatennis) semifinals Down Under. (Wtatennis).