International sports, tennis
Dubai (GenevaLunch)- Novak Djokovic increased the pressure on the number two spot of the ATP rankings with another crushing victory over Roger Federer in the final of the Dubai Open. The Serbian, currently ranked third, confirmed his position as the top player of 2011 following his win over the Swiss player at the final of the Australian Open. Djokovic won 6-3 6-3 as Federer committed a series of errors.
Miami, Florida (GenevaLunch) – Roger Federer, the Swiss number one in the ATP world tennis rankings, was knocked out of the Miami Masters by Czech Tomas Berdych. It was a tight match with Berdych winning the first set and coming within two points of winning the second before losing in the tie-break. The final set also went to tie-break and featured the unusual sight of Federer failing to win after having a match-point on his serve. Overall, Federer has not been pleased with his form in the US, and now returns to Europe to prepare for the clay court season leading up to the French Open.
In other matches Rafael Nadal, Robin Soderling and Andy Roddick came through.
Link: Sony Ericsson Open
Federer inches closer to another Sampras record
London, England (GenevaLunch) – Roger Federer neatly defeated Scotland’s Andy Murray in three sets, 3-6 6-3 6-1 at the ATP World Tour in London’s o2 arena. The Swiss player thus ensures that he will keep his ranking as the world’s top player for the rest of 2009. He finishes the year at the ATP World Tour Champion: “With five year-end number 1 finishes, Federer ties Jimmy Connors’ mark and now stands just one back of Pete Sampras on the list of all-time ATP World Tour Champions. Sampras finished as the No. 1 player six straight years, from 1993-98,” the tennis association notes on its site.
Federer held the top slot in world tennis for 237 straight weeks from 2 February 2004 to 17 August 2008.
Montreal, Canada (GenevaLunch) – Andy Murray confirmed his position as number 2 in the new ATP rankings by winning the final of the Rogers Cup in Montreal. He beat Argentinian Juan del Potro 6-7 7-6 6-1 in a match that was captivating for two sets but then fizzled out as the del Potro tired. Murray is 605 points ahead of Rafael Nadal but still 1,890 behind Roger Federer. The rankings record the points won in the previous 52 weeks.
Details: Rogers Cup
Montreal, Canada (GenevaLunch) - Andy Murray beat Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, a resident of La Rippe in canton Vaud. The 6-4, 7-6 victory also pushes Murray past Rafael Nadal to number 2 in the new ATP rankings. This is the highest ranking for a British player since the rankings started in 1973: Tim Henman and Greg Rusedski reached number 4.
