Federer Routs Zverev For Ninth Halle Title

Getty Images

Roger Federer started perfectly and never looked back in the Gerry Weber Open final in Halle on Sunday, sprinting to a 6-1, 6-3 victory against #NextGenATP German Alexander Zverev under the roof in Gerry Weber Stadion.

The dominating title victory gives Federer his ninth Halle crown, joining him with Rafael Nadal as the only two men in the Open Era who have won a tournament more than eight times. Nadal has won 10 Monte-Carlo Rolex Masters, Barcelona Open Banc Sabadell and Roland Garros titles.

Federer improves to 4-0 in title matches this season, having won the Australian Open, the BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells and the Miami Open presented by Itau. He and Nadal are now tied for the lead this season.

“It's great to get off to a good start in the finals and then remind yourself that you've been playing good tennis all week. You start swinging freely, things start clicking, you realise your opponent is under pressure and you keep pressuring him,” Federer said. “I'm like on 'Cloud Nine' right now after the ninth win here in Halle. It's a wonderful feeling to win here again because I'm not sure if I'll ever get a chance to win this again so it's important to enjoy this one.”

The 35-year-old Swiss also shoves aside any worries fans or pundits might have had about his long layoff affecting his grass-court season. The veteran right-hander took off 10 weeks after winning the Miami title on 2 April, opting to skip the clay-court season to rest his body and hopefully stave off any future possible injuries on clay.

After losing in his return on 14 June to friend Tommy Haas in Stuttgart, Federer checked off five consecutive victories, including wins against Zverev and rising #NextGenATP star Karen Khachanov, and heads to Wimbledon full of winning feelings. The Stuttgart defeat was the first time Federer had lost his opening match at a grass-court tournament since 2002 Wimbledon (l. to Ancic).

“I was doubting myself a little bit, I must admit, because losing [in the opening] round for the first time in 15 years on grass was always going to shake me a little bit and it did. So I'm happy to react right away and let that be forgotten and actually move on and remind myself I actually can play well on grass,” Federer said. “It's a boost for me personally, with my confidence, knowing that my body is in good shape. Mentally, I'm fresh again and I've gotten used to match play.” 

Federer Titles By Event

Zverev also had been 3-0 in title matches this season before Sunday, having won in Montpellier (d. Gasquet), Munich (d. Pella) and Rome, where he beat World No. 2 Novak Djokovic for his first ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title. The 20-year-old German also had beaten Federer only a year ago in the same stadium, outlasting Federer in a three-set semi-final to reach the 2016 Halle final.

But the #NextGenATP German had no answer for Federer's aggressive play and near perfect execution. Federer won the first seven points of the match, breaking Zverev to love in the opening game and holding to 15 to get the crowd behind him and to shock Zverev. Coming into the final, the German had lost his serve only twice all tournament, having won 46 of his 48 service games.

[ALSO LIKE]

But after 22 minutes, Federer had already broken Zverev three times en route to a one-set lead. The Swiss was swinging freely from both sides, placing Zverev on defense from the start of nearly every point. And when Federer had Zverev feet behind the baseline, he would sagely deliver a drop shot and send Zverev sprinting.

Zverev, No. 12 in the Emirates ATP Rankings, regained some belief in the second set, seeing a break point in the first game. But Federer erased it with a service winner. The nine-time Halle champion won 93 per cent of his first-serve points (26/28). Federer clinched his 16^th grass-court title after only 53 minutes with a backhand volley winner.

“I think Roger is playing really, really well. I think going into Wimbledon he's going to be probably the favourite to win the whole thing. So credits to him, he played an unbelievable match. Of course I could have played better but he didn't really let me play my best tennis. He messed with the ball a lot. He played very aggressive... I think he deserved to win,” Zverev said. “I think it was a very good week for me again making the finals here. Of course I'm upset with the loss, but going into Wimbledon I feel very confident I can make a deep run there.”

Federer's 92nd title moves him to within two of Ivan Lendl for second on the Open Era titles list. The Swiss star will receive 500 Emirates ATP Rankings points and €395,690 in prize money.

Zverev, who was trying to win his fifth career crown and second on home soil, will receive 300 Emirates ATP Rankings points and €193,985 in prize money.