Rotterdam crown for Federer
Swiss wins in Dutch city for the first time since 2005
Last Updated: February 20, 2012 10:02am
Roger Federer: First title of the season
Roger Federer brushed aside Juan Martin Del Potro to win the World Tennis Tournament in Rotterdam on Sunday.
The world number three won 6-1 6-4 to complete a ninth success over his Argentinian rival in 11 career meetings in an hour and 26 minutes.
Federer raced into a 5-0 lead in the opening set as Del Potro - who beat the Swiss to win the 2009 US Open - made a string of uncharacteristic errors.
Del Potro finally got on the scoreboard but the set had gone and he made a brighter start to lead early in the second.
However, Federer won five of the next seven games - breaking crucially in the sixth - to confirm his superiority after denying his opponent on each of the seven break points he faced.
"I just tried to stay in the point and not make mistakes. I kept this mindset throughout the match and it really helped," said Federer.
"I may have won the first set easy, but of course I knew that the second would not be as easy. I had to fight but I fought well. I tried to move forward against him and change the angle, the rhythm and the speed of the shot.
"It's incredible that it took me seven years to come back and defend my title, I hope the next time is not so long."
