ISTANBUL: Top-seeded Roger Federer claimed his 85th career title on Sunday with a 6-3, 7-6 (13-11) win over Pablo Cuevas in the final of the Istanbul Open.

The 17-time Grand Slam winner fended off strong resistance from the third-seeded Uruguayan, who saved four match points.

Federer, who claimed his first title on clay since winning in Madrid in 2012, broke for a 4-3 lead in the second set but dropped his serve immediately after hitting a double fault and missing two forehands.

The Swiss continued to struggle with consistency in the tiebreaker but a superb backhand volley earned him a fifth match point that he converted when Cuevas sent a forehand in the net.

It was Federer’s third title this season following victories in Brisbane and Dubai on hard court.

World number 23 Cuevas, who required two injury timeouts for treatment on his wrist, beat Bulgarian second seed Grigor Dimitrov 6-2 6-4 in the semi-final on Saturday to set up a meeting with Federer for the first time.

Published in Dawn, May 4th, 2015

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