Swiss master Roger Federer beat Germany’s Florian Mayer 6-4, 6-3 to win the Stockholm Open on Sunday and equal Pete Sampras’ haul of 64 ATP titles.
“It’s fantastic to come here, face the pressure and be able to come through at the end,” the world No. 2 told Swedish TV.
Federer now shares fourth place in terms of most ATP tournaments won, behind Jimmy Connors, Ivan Lendl and John McEnroe. Federer is unlikely to catch up with Connors any time soon. The American finished his career with more than 100 titles.
PHOTO: REUTERS
Federer was happy to have reached the 64 figure, telling a press conference: “You never know when it’s your last tournament, that’s why you want to savor every victory.”
The win gives Federer three titles for the season so far, a lean year by his standards.
“Sure, the summer was somewhat disappointing, with earlier losses at the French and at Wimbledon, but I played amazing at the Australian Open and played great at Cincinnati. I just had a bad win-loss record this year in finals,” he said. “In other years, maybe I would have won seven titles already, but here I am only with three and people are complaining, so it’s the way it goes a little bit.”
PHOTO: EPA
Mayer, without a title to his name, came out strongly, attacking at every opportunity and displaying a fine touch around the net.
He broke serve in the first set, only for Federer to break back immediately. The Swiss then held his own serve to love, before breaking again to take the set.
Mayer wrong-footed Federer with some classy shots, but a service break in the sixth game of the second set put the Swiss in the driving seat.
PHOTO: REUTERS
“It’s been a tough week. I came from Shanghai where I played five matches, then the jet lag and the whole thing, so to back it up with another win is great,” Federer said after picking up the trophy from Crown Princess Victoria.
Federer said the Tour is looking at proposals to end the season earlier.
“I don’t remember the season ever finishing as late as it is this year,” Federer said. “I’m not complaining, because I don’t mind a long season because I just take breaks during the season, but I just think for the average player, I think it’s smart to finish at some stage and have a proper off-season.”
KREMLIN CUP
REUTERS, MOSCOW
Serbian Viktor Troicki upset fourth-seed Marcos Baghdatis 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the Kremlin Cup final to clinch his maiden title on Sunday.
The unseeded Troicki regained his composure after losing the first set and prevailed after nearly two hours for his second win over Baghdatis in as many matches.
It was a great week for the 24-year-old Serbian, who also reached the doubles final with compatriot Janko Tipsarevic. They lost to Russians Igor Kunitsyn and Dmitry Tursunov.
“It feels really great to win my first title, there are no words to describe what is going through my mind,” world No. 43 Troicki said. “I would say it’s the biggest day of my career. I had been waiting a long time for this. It’s special it happened in Moscow as my father is Russian.”
Baghdatis was angered by a line call late in the second set and argued in vain with the chair umpire.
“It was a really bad call and it changed the match completely,” the Cypriot told reporters. “I had control of the match for the first two sets and then this thing happened. It was a bad bad mistake. The guy [linesman] was just sleeping.”
Earlier in the day Victoria Azarenka of Belarus beat Russia’s Maria Kirilenko 6-3, 6-4 in the women’s final.
LUXEMBOURG OPEN
AP, LUXEMBOURG
Unseeded Roberta Vinci won the Luxembourg Open final on Sunday by beating eighth-seeded Julia Goerges of Germany 6-3, 6-4.
Vinci gained early breaks in both sets.
“I tried to stay focused on every point, especially on my service games,” she said after her victory.
The Italian had previously won twice on tour, last year in Barcelona and in Bogota in 2007.
Goerges was playing for her second title of the year after winning at Bad Gastein.
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