Tennis News - Anne Keothavong and Roger Federer win in style
Last updated 11/7/2011 9:20:51 AM
ennis News - Anne Keothavong and Roger Federer win in style
Britain's Anne Keothavong is set to climb even higher up the world rankings after she completed her season in style with back to back ITF titles in two weeks.
After his triumph on native soil in Barnstable she emphasised her growing confidence by taking the title in Ismaning, Germany.
The 28 year old Londoner beat Yvonne Meusburger of Austria 6-3 1-6 6-2 and she has now won 19 of her last 22 matches and will certainly rise from her current ranking of 83 when the final 2011 standings are confirmed.
She said: "I had to really dig deep as I was running on empty after Barnstable and I'm so pleased to win another tournament."
She dug even deeper when she then went on to take the doubles title in the German tournament alongside Kiki Bertens of the Netherlands.
Meanwhile Roger Federer came back from his rest cure to beat Japan's Kei Nishikori in the Swiss Indoors final to take only his second title of 2011.
The 30 year old Federer sprinted home 6-1 6-3 over the 32nd-ranked wildcard, who had upset all the odds and denied the crowd the final they wanted when he shocked the ailing world number one Novak Djokovic in the semi final.
The Swiss world number four Federer was playing in his 98th ATP singles final, while Nishikori was in only his third.
"It's great to win at home again," said Federer. "Kei put up a good fight. I knew when I hit with him as a teenager that he could have a good future."
Federer, the former world number one, won his home title in Basle for the fifth time in six years.
The 16-time Grand Slam champion, who was playing in his first final since losing to Rafael Nadal in the French Open in June, dropped just one point on serve in a 28-minute opening set, while Nishikori took only six points off Federer's serve in the entire match to show that the Fed Express is well rested.
Federer, who was playing in his first singles tournament since the US Open in September, admits he is in good spirits going into this week's Paris Masters and the final showdown in the London 02 Arena in the ATP Tour Finals.
"It was a perfect match for me." Now I have big hopes for Paris and London. It's been a long time since I felt so good physically.
"I'm feeling ready and fit and fired up, that's how it's supposed to be. This is the last push of the season and I'm ready for it."
Of Federer's main rivals, Djokovic re-injured his right shoulder against Nishikori, while world number two Rafa Nadal has already pulled out of Paris with an unspecified injury.
Briton Andy Murray, ranked third, withdrew from the Basle event with a strain in his right gluteal muscle.
Federer added: "It's been a great start to the autumn; I think my pause paid off. I've got different priorities than some of the younger guys who are ranked around me.
"I needed to take that time off, it was best for my mind, my body, my family and my fitness. There is a lot of tennis to be played until the end of the season and it will be packed in early 2012.
"I want to be a danger everywhere that I play."
Nishikori, who will go to Paris with a special exemption, played Federer for the first time in his career and said it had been an ambition of his.
"He didn't give me a chance, he was too good for me today," said Nishikori, 21, who inflicted only the fourth defeat of the season on Djokovic.