FEDERER BRINGS UP A CENTURY OF TITLES

Roger Federer yesterday reached the landmark of 100 tour-level titles after beating Stefanos Tsitsipas in the final of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

The 37-year-old joined only Jimmy Connors in amassing a century of tour-level tournament wins in the open era and gained a measure of revenge for his defeat to Tsitsipas in this year’s Australian Open.

Federer did not look back after breaking in the opening game as he sealed a comfortable 6-4 6-4 victory in 70 minutes for his eighth title in this event.

“It’s an absolute dream come true right now,” said Federer afterwards.

The Swiss veteran was edged out in four sets by Tsitsipas in Melbourne in January but proved a level above his 20-year-old Greek opponent on Saturday. Meanwhile Scot Cameron Norrie missed out on his second ATP Tour final after being beaten by Alexander Zverev at the Mexican Open in straight sets.

Zverev continued his fine form of not dropping a set all week and lost serve just once in the 7-6 (0) 6-3 victory.

Britain’s world No. 64 dropped his opening service game but did well to match his German opponent in the first set, before Zverev took control in the tiebreaker, winning every point.

Zverev, the No. 2 seed, hit 10 aces to Norrie’s two and won 81%