Fansided

Roger Federer on message with top ranking, first grass season title in Stuttgart

By Veronica Elizabeth Bruno

STUTTGART, GERMANY - JUNE 17: Winner Roger Federer of Switzerland poses with his the trophy after defeating Milos Raonic of Canada in the final match on day 7 of the Mercedes Cup at Tennisclub Weissenhof on June 17, 2018 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images)
STUTTGART, GERMANY - JUNE 17: Winner Roger Federer of Switzerland poses with his the trophy after defeating Milos Raonic of Canada in the final match on day 7 of the Mercedes Cup at Tennisclub Weissenhof on June 17, 2018 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Alex Grimm/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

Roger Federer won his first grass season title at the Mercedes Cup in a masterclass two sets win over Milos Raonic, putting him in perfect position for his quest for a ninth title at Wimbledon.

It’s hard to imagine Roger Federer winning a first title in any tournament he enters at this stage in his career, but that’s exactly what he achieved at the Stuttgart Open, winning the title for the first time, defeating Milos Raonic  6-4, 7-6(3).

The win over Raonic represents the transformation of Federer’s game since the famous absence he took from it in 2016 to emerge as Federer 2.0 in 2017, claiming three grand slams in Australia (two) and Wimbledon. It was the former world No. 3 Raonic who sent Federer packing in the Wimbledon semifinal in 2’16, right before the Swiss made the decision to take an extended break.

“It’s a great comeback for me,” said Federer, referencing his time off during clay season.

The 20-time grand slam champion looked completely relaxed and confident, displaying full mastery over a beautiful grass game that he has conquered in his 20-year stretch on tour. If Rafael Nadal is the “king of clay,” Federer is certainly the “king of grass.”

However, Fed’s comfort zone ends this week. Given how the ATP points work, in order to remain No. 1, Federer will need to defend both the Halle and Wimbledon titles coming up. The margin between him and Nadal is razor thin, but a comfortable 3,000 points above anyone else.

More from Tennis

The Mercedes Cup win was Roger Federer’s 98th ATP title, putting him now just nine behind one of the few records he doesn’t have, Jimmy Connors’ 109. He is two more ATP titles away from being only the second man on tour to enter the 100 club. The chances of him attaining two more titles in his lifetime on tour? Very likely. But the next seven (to equal) or more (to surpass the record) will get harder as he gets older, Federer turns 39 in August. But as we’ve seen with the sports legend, he continues to defy all the odds.

“Watching him is watching history,” said Andre Agassi — who Federer surpassed as the oldest ATP No. 1 male — according to Time.

“You see it every time with the way he conducts himself — with the fans, with his peers, with the media. I just have more appreciation than the average fan because he makes it look so easy and I actually think I know what it takes.”

The Gerry Weber tournament starts this week in Halle, where Federer will enter as the new No. 1. Wimbledon starts two weeks after that, July 2. Similar to Nadal, Federer is going for his own “La Decima” (or “der zehnte?” What’s the Swiss German equivalent? Doesn’t really have the same ring to it … ) in Halle.

“I hope I keep it up at Halle and Wimbledon,” Federer said after the match. “It will give me a boost as well being back at world number one.”

If the Swiss player loses the number one ranking during grass season, the race for the top spot between Federer and Nadal will continue to fascinate, and could possibly heat up heading into the U.S. Open season.

Home/Tennis