STUTTGART: Roger Federer beat Milos Raonic to win the Mercedes Cup in Stuttgart, his first event for two and a half months. The Swiss had not played since the Miami Open in March, after choosing to miss the clay-court season, but the win in Germany gives him a 98th Tour title. Federer, 36, beat Canadian Raonic 6-4 7-6 (7-3) in the final. The 20-time Grand Slam champion had already secured his return to number one in the world rankings with victory over Nick Kyrgios in the semi-final. The only break of serve came in the third game of the match with Federer clinching it with a backhand winner. The second set was again tight as both players’ serve dominated on the grass court but Federer edged it on a tie-break. Federer also sat out the clay-court season in 2017 but last year lost on his return in Stuttgart before going on to win the Gerry Weber Open in Halle and claim an eighth Wimbledon title.