TENNIS
Shock defeat topples Federer from No 1
Australian qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis, ranked 175th in the world, needed a wild card just to get into qualifying
Miami — Roger Federer’s latest reign atop the world rankings will end after the Swiss great’s shock loss to Australian qualifier Thanasi Kokkinakis in the second round of the Miami Masters. Kokkinakis, ranked 175th in the world, needed a wild card just to get into qualifying. But he showed nerves of steel in a 3-6 6-3 7-6 (7/4) triumph over the 20-time Grand Slam champion on Saturday. He was delighted to beat a player he admires, calling Federer "such a good role model for the sport". "I was calmer than I thought," Kokkinakis said of the third-set tiebreaker. "Inside I was pretty happy, I was excited, but I kept pretty calm." Federer, who won his 20th Grand Slam crown at the Australian Open, regained the No1 spot in February after winning the ATP title in Rotterdam but needed to reach the quarterfinals to remain at the summit. Instead he will be replaced by Spain’s Rafael Nadal when the rankings are released at the end of the tournament. "I deserve it after this match. That’s how I ...
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