Roger Federer demolished starstruck Kei Nishikori in the final of his home town tournament to win the Swiss Indoors title for the fifth time in six years on Sunday.
Federer, appearing in his 98th ATP final of which he has won 68, triumphed 6-1, 6-3 against the 21-year-old Japanese wild card, who was playing the record 16-time Grand Slam champion for the first time.
Nishikori took only six points off Federer’s serve and had to wait until the final game before managing a break point.
Photo: AFP
“It was a dream come true. He has always been my idol. It was a great experience for me. I am looking forward to playing against him again,” said Nishikori, who trained with Federer five years ago.
Federer, 30, was playing his first tournament since the US Open and said he had made the right decision to skip a tournament in Shanghai even if it meant disappointing his Chinese fans.
“I’m at a different point in my career to the younger guys, I have to focus on what’s better for my body, my mind, my family and I think it was the right decision,” Federer said.
Federer, who completed his third match without dropping a set following wins over Andy Roddick and Stanislas Wawrinka, clinched his second title of the year and his first since Doha in January.
Nishikori held serve in the opening game, but the dominant Swiss rattled off the next seven as he totally dominated proceedings against the world No. 32.
Nishikori put up more resistance in the second set, saving two break points as held serve in the second game to at least end Federer’s run.
However, it was only a matter of time and Federer broke in the sixth game. Nishikori defiantly saved four break points, but could do nothing about a perfect Federer lob which left him stranded on the fifth.
The Japanese had his only break point in the ninth game, but Federer saved it and went on to finish off the match with a forehand smash.
Manchester United on Tuesday confirmed Michael Carrick as interim manager until the end of the season, tasking him with leading the Red Devils back into the UEFA Champions League. “Having the responsibility to lead Manchester United is an honor,” said Carrick, 44, who won 12 major trophies in his 12-year playing career at United. The former midfielder previously had an unbeaten three-game stint as caretaker boss at Old Trafford in 2021. Carrick then took on his first permanent managerial role at second-tier Middlesbrough in October 2022 and was sacked in June last year after the club finished 10th in the
Reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Shai Gilgeous-Alexander on Sunday sparked defending champions Oklahoma City to victory, while Anthony Edwards led Minnesota’s last-minute fightback to beat San Antonio. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 29 points while adding eight assists and five rebounds in the Thunder’s 124-112 home victory over Miami, improving the NBA’s best record to 33-7 after outscoring the Heat 70-53 in the second half. “We locked in defensively. We were finally able to get some stops,” Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins said. “We were able to get out in transition a little bit, get going offensively and find the flow.” Jalen Williams scored 18 points, while
Mohamed Salah’s Egypt knocked reigning champions Ivory Coast out of the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) with a 3-2 win in the quarter-finals on Saturday, while Victor Osimhen starred as Nigeria beat Algeria 2-0 to set up a clash with hosts Morocco. In Agadir, Morocco, a thrilling last-eight tie saw Omar Marmoush and Ramy Rabia net in the first half for the Pharaohs before an own goal by Ahmed Aboul-Fetouh brought the Ivorians back into it. Salah then got Egypt’s third early in the second half and they held on after Guela Doue again reduced the deficit. Egypt is to face Senegal
Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg on Wednesday was ruled out for the second half of their 118-109 loss to the Denver Nuggets after the No. 1 pick sprained his left ankle in the first half. Flagg was called for a foul while defending against Peyton Watson and turned the ankle as he fell to the floor with 6 minutes, 1 second left in the second quarter. Flagg limped to the bench and continued to the locker room, but returned for the final 2 minutes, 35 seconds before the break. The 19-year-old did not come out for the second half before the announcement that
RSS