By Chris Oddo | Thursday February 15, 2018
Roger Federer finished off Philipp Kohlschreiber to move within one victory of the ATP's No.1 ranking.
Photo Source: Getty Images
One win.
That’s all Roger Federer needs to become the oldest No.1 in ATP history next week after the Swiss maestro battled past Philipp Kohlschreiber to earn a 7-6(8), 7-5 victory on Thursday in Rotterdam.
For a player with 1,141 to his name, it shouldn't be a problem.
Federer will look to clinch another big slice of tennis’ history books on Friday when he takes on either Robin Haase or Tallon Griekspoor in the quarterfinals.
Things got very dicey for Federer late in the opening set when he was not able to convert a set point on Kohlschreiber’s serve with the German serving at 5-6, 30-40.
From there things quickly got more complicated as Kohlschreiber raced out to a 5-2 lead in the tiebreaker and then held two points at 6-4. But Federer made a brilliant stab return off a Kohlschreiber first serve that forced an error before cracking a first-serve winner to level at 6-all.
Moments later the Swiss converted his fourth set point to take the lead.
The second set was less dramatic but still very competitive. But again it would be Federer to secure the scraps and claim the big points. He earned a second break point at 5-all in the set and Kohlschreiber, who had saved the first five break points he had faced on the day, finally yielded. He double-faulted long and Federer closed the match with a hold to 15, closing affairs with a forehand volley winner.
Federer finished with 11 aces and 40 winners against 32 unforced, including 24 winners off the forehand side. The Swiss improves to 13-0 against Kohlschreiber and 25-6 lifetime at Rotterdam with the win.
Federer will return to the World No.1 ranking for the first time since 4 November 2012 if he reaches the semi-finals; he’d be the oldest player to ever claim the top spot and he’d also hold the record for longest span between No.1 rankings—he first climbed to No.1 on February 2, 2004—of over 14 years.