Federer returns to number 1

Two of the four quarter finals contested in the Qatar Total Open in Doha were quality three setters and worthy of this stage of a Premier level tournament.

Caroline Wozniacki (1) and Angie Kerber (8) played a tight first set and it couldn’t be decided without a tie break.

Each player achieved a service break from the six opportunities given both.

Kerber had displayed a brilliant first serve percentage, and broke Wozniacki in the third game.

At 5-3, the top seed hit back and even gained a set point at 6-5, but it was denied by Kerber.

Wozniacki played a better tie break and led 7-6(4).

Kerber levelled with a dominant second set.

Winning 16 of 19 points on serve, compared with Wozniacki’s 8 from 18, was a stark indication of the one sided nature of the set.

Kerber broke twice for a 6-1 result, then broke again to begin the deciding set.

Wozniacki awoke from her nightmare and proceeded to break back immediately, and a further break was too much for a tiring Kerber, and Wozniacki took the chocolates 7-6(4) 1-6 6-3.

This was a terrific match - Kerber, in losing only her second match for 2018, hit 37 winners against 30 unforced errors.

Wozniacki 46 winners and 29 unforced errors.

Garbine Muguruza (4) was in danger of missing out on reaching her first Doha semi final when Caroline Garcia (7) out performed her in the opening set.

The match was being played on the French player’s terms, for instance Garcia winning all five points on the Muguruza second serve.

The set belonged to Caroline 6-3.

After that the crowd was witness to a Spanish masterclass, with reminders of how Muguruza can take control of all the court against any opponent.

She has, of course, beaten each of the Williams sisters to take home Grand Slam titles.

Here she took the attack to Garcia, winning twice as many points, breaking serve twice, and squaring the match 3-6 6-1.

More of the same in the decider, although the seventh seed put up more resistance, especially when Muguruza was serving at 4-3 to maintain her break advantage.

Still, the victory was Garbine’s 3-6 6-1 6-4

The other quarter finals:

Simona Halep (2) defeated qualifier CiCi Bellis 6-0 6-4

Unfortunately Halep did more damage to her foot which was injured during the Australian Open last month and the second seed announced later that she would be withdrawing from the tournament.

Petra Kvitová (16) defeated Julia Goerges (9) 6-4 2-1 (retired)

So the the one semi final to be played is that between Caroline Wozniacki (1) and Petra Kvitová (16).

Garbine Muguruza (4) has been given a free pass to the final with the withdrawal of Simona Halep (2), who would have been her semi final opponent.

Rotterdam: ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament 

Quarter finals

Roger Federer had to come back from a set down against Robin Haase before putting the foot to the metal and winning 4-6 6-1 6-1.

As well as making the semi final against Andreas Seppi, Federer ensured that he would return to number one in the world rankings for the first time since November 2012.

He is the oldest player, at 36, to sit atop the world - previously it was Andre Agassi (33 in 2003)

He now holds the record for longest time between stints at the top - five years and 106 days.

For good measure, he now has displaced Rafa Nadal for longest time between debuting as number one (2004) and the latest duration there.

Lucky Loser from qualifying Andreas Seppi defeated qualifier Daniil Medvedev 7-6(4) 4-6 6-3 

David Goffin defeated Tomas Berdych (6) via a walkover 

Grigor Dimitrov (2) defeated Andrey Rublev 6-3 6-4

The second semi final will feature David Goffin (4) v Grigor Dimitrov (2)

New York: New York Open

Quarter finals 

Adrian Mannarino (4) defeated qualifier Adrian Menendez-Maceiras 7-5 2-6 6-3 

Sam Querrey defeated Ivo Karlovic 7-6(5) 7-6(4)

Kei Nishikori (5) defeated Radu Albot 4-6 6-3 6-1

Kevin Anderson (1) defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-3 5-7 6-4

Semi finals will be:

Kevin Anderson (1) v Kei Nishikori (5)

Adrian Mannarino (4) v Sam Querrey (2)

Buenos Aires: Argentina Open

Quarter finals 

Gaël Monfils defeated Leonardo Mayer 6-4 3-6 6-3

Aljaz Bedene defeated Diego Schwartzman (5) 6-4 6-4

Federico Delbonis defeated Guillermo Garcia-Lopez 6-3 7-5

Dominic Thiem (1) defeated Guido Pella 7-6(7) 6-4

Semi finals will be:

Dominic Thiem (1) v Gaël Monfils 

Aljaz Bedene v Federico Delbonis