By ADAM ZAGORIA
Roger Federer will return to the world No. 1 ranking on Monday by virtue of his 6-7(2), 6-2, 7-6(5) victory over Nick Kyrgios in the semifinals in Stuttgart.
Federer, who will meet Canadian Milos Raonic in Sunday’s final, leapfrogs his rival Rafael Nadal, who had been No. 1 and who just won his 11th French Open title and 17th Grand Slam crown.
“I’m happy I got it and got back to world No. 1 next Monday so it’s very exciting, and I got another final so it’s great news,” Federer, the 20-time Grand Slam champ and soon-to-be-37-year-old, said on court.
Roger Federer takes our Nick Kyrgios 6-7, 6-2, 7-6 to reach the final in Stuttgart where he’ll play Milos Raonic. pic.twitter.com/bMaZi4aCT2
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) June 16, 2018
After losing the first set in a tough breaker, Federer broke Kyrgios twice in the second to even the match at one-set all.
He then gained a mini-break in the third-set tiebreak but gave it back, finally winning the match on a backhand half volley up the line.
“It was a tough match I expected against Nick,” Federer said. “We’ve played so many breakers already, I lost count. It was close. Look, it could’ve gone either way.”
Federer is 10-3 against Raonic.
“I look up to him a lot,” Raonic said.
“But I have got to come out here and give my best and hopefully I can play well.”
Federer has never won in Stuttgart.
“It would mean a lot to me to win Stuttgart, no doubt about it,” Federer said. “I lost the last couple of matches here with match points, so maybe it’s going to happen again. And then when I picked up the half volley, I was so happy.
“I’m really excited to play Milos again. It’s nice for him and I hope we can play another great match.”
