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Roger Federer eyes 100 ATP Tour titles

At 36 years of age, Roger Federer is still trying to find ways to raise the bar.

Updated on: Feb 15, 2018, 17:06:04 IST
Rotterdam | By
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Roger Federer has set his sights on winning 100 ATP Tour titles after breezing through the first round of the Rotterdam Open.

Roger Federer plays a forehand return during his men's singles match against Ruben Bemelmans from Belgium in the first round of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam on February 14, 2018. (AFP)
Roger Federer plays a forehand return during his men's singles match against Ruben Bemelmans from Belgium in the first round of the ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam on February 14, 2018. (AFP)

The 20-time Grand Slam champion has claimed 96 tournaments on the Tour and needs a semi-final berth this week to return to the world number one spot.

Federer thrashed Ruben Bemelmans 6-1 6-2 in Rotterdam on Wednesday in a typically classy display and underlined his apparently unquenchable desire for success when speaking afterwards.

“I like to win titles being on a Tour. Being at a hundred would be an extremely cool number,” Roger Federer said, having immediately hit his stride in his first match after winning the Australian Open for a sixth time last month.

“Here I am at 96. World number one would be very special. Good matches, good feelings, good vibes.

“You need to have goals when you want to be successful.”

Asked if his twin daughters were thrilled at the prospect of their father scaling the summit of the rankings, the 36-year-old said: “The girls might be excited. I don’t even know if they know I can become number one this week.

“It’s for my team. It is more for everyone who helped me come back. Coaches go way back, it would be a massive achievement for them.”

Philipp Kohlschreiber awaits Federer in round two.

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