Roger Federer exacted a measure of revenge on Stefanos Tsitsipas at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Saturday evening. But that wasn’t his most significant accomplishment.
In addition to making amends for his recent Australian Open loss, Federer captured the 100th title of his illustrious career by triumphing over Tsitsipas 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 getting the job done in one hour and nine minutes of play.
“It’s been a long, wonderful journey; I have loved every minute,” Federer reflected. “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 Saturday’s final despite requiring three sets in his first two matches against Philipp Kohlschreiber and Fernando Verdasco. He raised his level 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 lightning-quick fashion one game later to sail across the finish line and get his hands on an eighth Dubai trophy.
“I played the right way,” Federer noted. “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 explained. “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 event of the 2019 campaign.
GOAT.
Very quiet on this thread
Well done Roger