WORLD NUMBER FOUR Roger Federer will head to London next week in top form after claiming his first Paris Masters title on Sunday.
Taking on home favourite Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and seeking his first Masters title of the year, Federer withstood early pressure during his first service game to race to the first set in just 30 minutes.
Tsonga did at least attempt a fightback in the second set – coming close to a breakthrough on two occasions – but once Federer took a 4-0 lead in the tiebreak, the match was effectively over.
“I’m very happy with my performance,” he said afterwards (See Sky Sports). I’m amazed by how well I played. I don’t think Jo played a bad match. It’s good to complete the tournament so solidly.”
The Swiss now travels to the ATP Tour Finals with back-to-back titles to this name – having won in his native country last week – and is showing signs of the form that helped him claim some of his previous 68 career titles.
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Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams, meanwhile, has become the latest top tennis star to alter their eating habits in a bid to capture top form. The American was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease earlier this year and has adopted a new regime in order to get back playing on a more regular basis next season.
“I changed my diet completely, so lots of vegetables,” she told reporters in Qatar on Sunday (See Reuters). “I (altered) my mind frame completely because I was the person who always ate their steak first and their salad second.”