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Federer Secures First Title of Year With Wimbledon Next, Federer Ends Drought
(about 3 hours later)
HALLE, Germany — After one of the slowest starts to a season in his career, Roger Federer won his first title of the year Sunday on the grass of the Gerry Weber Open, in this small town in western Germany. HALLE, Germany — After one of the slowest starts to a season in his career, Roger Federer won his first title of the year Sunday on the grass at the Gerry Weber Open, in this small town in western Germany.
Federer, the ATP No. 3 and top seed in Halle, came from a set down to beat 29th-ranked Mikhail Youzhny, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4. It was his sixth title at the Wimbledon tuneup event, at which he has a lifetime contract and a street named in his honor. Federer, ranked No. 3 and the top seed in Halle, came from a set down to beat 29th-ranked Mikhail Youzhny, 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4. It was his sixth title at this Wimbledon tuneup event, at which he has a lifetime contract and a street named in his honor.
The title is the 77th of Federer’s career, which ties him for third on the career ATP list with John McEnroe, behind Jimmy Connors’s 109 and Ivan Lendl’s 94. Federer now has 77 titles, tying him for third on the career ATP list with John McEnroe, behind Jimmy Connors’s 109 and Ivan Lendl’s 94.
While a title at a small tournament on his best surface might not seem like a major feat in the scope of Federer’s illustrious career, in which he won 17 Grand Slams, it ended a nearly unprecedented title drought that dates back 10 months since he won the Cincinnati Masters in August. Although a title at a small tournament on his best surface might not seem like a major feat in the scope of Federer’s career — he has won 17 Grand Slam titles — it ended a 10-month drought that dates to the Cincinnati Masters in August.
The gap between his 76th and 77th titles was the longest dry spell for Federer since the time between his first and second career titles, which came in Milan in February 2001 and Sydney in January 2002. The gap between his 76th and 77th titles was the longest dry spell for Federer since the time between his first and second titles, which came in Milan in February 2001 and Sydney in January 2002.
Though Federer rejected the notion that he was feeling the pressure, he acknowledged that he felt better going into Wimbledon with a title under his belt. Federer rejected the notion that he was feeling pressure, but he acknowledged that he felt better going into Wimbledon with a title under his belt.
“Winning sort of solves everything, really,” he said. “So for me it’s great, in terms of confidence. I feel like I know what I need to do. It’s good to fight as well the last couple of matches now after two easy ones at the beginning. I had to come from losing the first set twice, then coming back to win is a great feeling. There’s still things I believe I can improve on but I think that will then happen when the moment is there, when Wimbledon starts. But over all I’m very pleased with the way I played and I’m happy with the week.” “Winning sort of solves everything, really,” he said. “So for me it’s great, in terms of confidence. I feel like I know what I need to do. It’s good to fight as well the last couple of matches now after two easy ones at the beginning. I had to come from losing the first set twice, then coming back to win is a great feeling. There’s still things I believe I can improve on, but I think that will then happen when the moment is there, when Wimbledon starts. But over all I’m very pleased with the way I played and I’m happy with the week.”
Federer will go into Wimbledon, which starts in eight days, as the defending champion. He has won the Halle-Wimbledon double four times: every year from 2003 to 2006. Federer will go into Wimbledon, which starts in a week, as the defending champion. He has won the Halle-Wimbledon double four times: every year from 2003 to 2006.
Federer’s path in Wimbledon will not be known until the draw Friday, but it could include a meeting with Rafael Nadal as early as the quarterfinals. Nadal, despite a prodigious start to the 2013 season which has included a French Open crown and six other titles, will still be seeded fifth because of the seven months of competition he missed from July to February. Federer’s path in Wimbledon will not be known until the draw Friday, but it could include a meeting with Rafael Nadal as early as the quarterfinals. Nadal, despite a prodigious start to the 2013 season — which has included a French Open crown and six other titles — will still be seeded fifth because of the seven months of competition he missed from July to February.
While some have called for Wimbledon to adjust its seedings to move Nadal up to the top four, Federer disagreed, and said the current No. 4, David Ferrer, had earned his seed. Some have called for Wimbledon to adjust its seedings to move Nadal up to the top four, but Federer disagreed, saying the current No. 4, David Ferrer, had earned his seed.
“Ferrer has played rock solid the last 365 days,” Federer said. “What are you going to say? Rafa hadn’t played that much. That’s how the rankings go. But in probably a month or so Rafa is going to be the top two — or three. So, he’s going to be patient right now.” “Ferrer has played rock solid the last 365 days,” Federer said. “What are you going to say? Rafa hadn’t played that much. That’s how the rankings go. But in probably a month or so, Rafa is going to be the top two — or three. So he’s going to be patient right now.”
Federer added: “Clearly it changes the draw, the dynamics of it but not more than that, really. I mean the quarterfinal is not first round. It’s still far away in the draw if you think about it.” Federer added: “Clearly it changes the draw, the dynamics of it, but not more than that, really. I mean the quarterfinal is not first round. It’s still far away in the draw if you think about it.”
While the late rounds of Wimbledon are far away, Youzhny’s latest loss to Federer was fresh in his mind after the final. Youzhny’s record against Federer is 0-15, the most losses any player has ever sustained against Federer without having beaten him at least once. Although the late rounds of Wimbledon are far away, Youzhny’s latest loss to Federer was fresh in his mind after the final. Youzhny’s record against Federer is 0-15, the most losses any player has ever had against Federer without having beaten him at least once.
Youzhny found success early in the match in exchanges between his own one-handed backhand and Federer’s, but he was unable to make inroads in Federer’s service games, never breaking his serve. Federer hit 11 aces to Youzhny’s 3 and earned 9 break point opportunities to Youzhny’s 2. Youzhny found success early in the match in exchanges between his one-handed backhand and Federer’s, but he was unable to make inroads in Federer’s service games, never breaking his serve. Federer hit 11 aces to Youzhny’s 3 and earned nine break point opportunities to Youzhny’s two.
Youzhny, not surprisingly, said he did not believe that Federer’s game had declined.Youzhny, not surprisingly, said he did not believe that Federer’s game had declined.
“I don’t like when somebody starts to talk about he’s not the same,” Youzhny. “What do you mean he’s not the same? He’s the same good.” “I don’t like when somebody starts to talk about he’s not the same,” Youzhny said. “What do you mean he’s not the same? He’s the same good.”