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Roger Federer Wins 1st Title of 2013 at Halle

Halle ATP 250 - Men's Final

1 Roger Federer d Mikhail Youzhny - 67(5) 63 64

The GOAT needed to dig deep in his last 2 matches.

He dropped the 1st set in both of those matches to Haas & Youzhny.

But in the end he won his 6th title at Halle.

It had to feel good as he hadn't won a title since Cincy last summer.

There is only 1 tourney where he has more titles: Wimbledon with 7.

And further - he tied McEnroe at 3rd on the list of all-time titles at 77.

He has quite a ways to go to catch leader Jimmy Connors at 106.

Methinks that Connors record is safe.

Post match: I am happy it worked for me today. I was satisfied with my

game in the past 10 months. Maybe people thought I was playing badly.

That was not the case. I was playing well but, when it mattered,

the others were just better. Today it worked well.

Roger Federer into Semifinals at Halle

ATP 250 Halle - Men's Quarterfinal

1 Roger Federer d WC Mischa Zverev - 60 60

This was the 2nd time in his career Roger has double bageled someone.

Roger has only played 1 final so far this year - a loss to Rafa at Rome.

He hasn't won a title since Aug. 12 at Cincinnati.

Those are not familiar to Federer fans. It's quite a draught.

In fact, this is the latest he's gone in a season without a title since '99.

Since his last win (of his 5 here) at Halle he's been runner-up twice.

Including his loss last year to Tommy Haas.

Speaking of, Roger will play Tommy in the Sf's tomorrow.

So yea, we'll see.

ATP Weekend Winners for June 17, 2012

ATP 250 Queen's Club - Final

6 Marin Cilic d 10 David Nalbandian - 67(3) 43 Def.

David was defaulted for assaulting and leaving bloodied a lines judge.

Thus handing Marin his 7th career ATP title.

Marin has been struggling with injuries of late and said post-match:

I played good today and came here to play four, five matches.

I won them and pretty comfortably in those first two or three.

I’m feeling really good & I think my form is on the spot where it should be.

***

ATP 250 Halle - Final

WC Tommy Haas d 2 Roger Federer - 76(5) 64

This is Tommy's 13th career ATP title & 1st since winning Halle in '09.

The win also gave him a near 40 spot ranking boost to #49.

This was Tommy's 3rd win over Fed - the last win was way back in '02.

Post match: I don’t have many words to say really...

Except that it is an amazing feeling to win another title in Germany.

To have somebody across the net like Roger is a real honour for me.

To have that picture with the winning trophy and Roger next to me...

Is something really special, something I’ll obviously never forget.

I’m just really happy and proud.

Rafael Nadal & Roger Federer Win Openers at Halle

ATP 250 Halle - Second Round

1 Rafael Nadal d Lukas Lacko - 75 61

2 Roger Federer d Florian Mayer - 64 75

Rafa - no rest for the weary as he makes the transition from clay to grass.

Remember: Only 3 days ago he won his 7th Roland Garros title.

Only once has he gone from the RG title to winning the Wimbledon tune-up.

That was at Queen's Club in '08. He also went on to win Wimby that year.

***

Roger is a 5-time champ at Halle: '03-'06 & '08.

If we're being honest tho most of the big guns always play at Queens Club.

He'll next face a tough one in Raonic - H2H: 2-0/RF.

Remember: Milos came within a point of beating him last time they played.

***

If Rafa & Roger were to meet in the final it would be match #29.

Their H2H is 18-10 in Rafa's favor but Roger won the last match at IW.

After Rafa's RG title he also moved ahead of Rog in Facebook fans.

But he's tops in Halle - look, they even named a street for him:

Lleyton Hewitt Upsets Roger Federer for Halle Title

8 Lleyton Hewitt d 1 Roger Federer - 36 76(4) 64

File this under 'I didn't see that coming' - this is a big upset indeed.

Lleyton wins his 28th title, 1st since Houston '09 and 6th on grass.

Lleyton also snaps a 15 match losing streak to Roger dating back to '02.

***

Roger Federer is now on a 7 tournament title draught.

Not since '01 has Roger gone this far in the year without a 2nd title.

Never fear FedFans, this is a small bump in the road...

He's still the heavy favorite for a 7th Wimbledon title.

Photo: Reuters

Roger Federer & Lleyton Hewitt to Play for Halle Title

1 Roger Federer vs 8 Lleyton Hewitt - H2H: 17-7

Roger has won their last 15 matches played - Lleyton last beat him in '02.

This will be their 5th meeting on grass - Roger leads 3-1.

Oddly enough this is only the 4th meeting in a final - Roger leads 3-0.

Roger seeks 2nd title in '10 following the Australian Open - Lleyton his 1st.

A win would give Roger a 6th title in Halle: '03-'06 & '08.

He skipped the tourney in '07 & '09 so he is riding a 29 match streak.

***

Semifinal Results

1 Roger Federer d Philipp Petzschner - 76(3) 64

Germany's Petzschner has quietly worked his way up to #41.

8 Lleyton Hewitt d Benjamin Becker - 67(4) 76(3) 62

Becker is the 4th ranked German at # 52 - there are 5 between #'s 35-60.

Photos: Getty Images

Roger Federer Leads Semifinalists in Halle

Halle ATP 250 - Tomorrow's Semifinal Matches

1 Roger Federer vs Philipp Petzschner - H2H: 0-0

Roger is looking for his 29th consecutive win at Halle.

He's won the event the last 5 times he's played it: '03-'06 & '08.

This is Roger's 5th semi for the 2010 season: 2-2.

This is (home country) Philipp's 4th tour semifinal this year: 0-3.

***

2 Lleyton Hewitt vs Benjamin Becker - H2H: 1-0

Both men are in their 1st semifinal on the year.

Basically, both are playing to be the runner-up to Federer on Sunday, no?

***

Quarterfinal Results Today

1 Roger Federer d Philipp Kohlschreiber - 75 63
8 Lleyton Hewitt d WC Andreas Beck - 76(0) 61
B Becker (GER) d WC Mischa Zverev - 76(4) 60
Philipp Petzschner d Lukas Lacko - 64 63

Photo: afp

Roger Federer Wins 2nd Round Match in Halle

1 Roger Federer d Alejandro Falla - 61 62

His quarterfinal foe will be German Philipp Kohlschreiber - H2H: 4-0.

Kohlschreiber took a tie-break set off Roger at Wimbledon last year.

That's about all the excitement found in their head-to-head.

Winning Halle a 6th time should be a cake walk for Roger.

He won't potentially face a top 20 player until the final (Davydenko or Youzhny).

Roger is looking for his 2nd title in '10 - to add to his Aussie Open.

In '08 Halle was his second title of that particular year...

Then it was the longest since '01 he'd waited for a 2nd title on a year.

But since most all of the other big boys are playing in London this week...

He should be able to match his '08 effort.

Photo: PMK

Roger Federer Looks MUCH Better on Grass

Ah, Roger on a grass court is like Nutella & bananas on a crepe - delicious.

Ha, that was lame. Sorry.

But it does look 100% better than Roger on clay. Wouldn't you agree?

And in case you missed it: the point of the match:

Roger Federer Slips to #2 as He Wins 1st Match in Halle

On Sunday Roger signed a lifetime contract to play in Halle, Germany.

It was really just a promotional gimmick ahead of the tournament.

But he's agreed to play in Halle as long as he is on tour.

That's quite a score considering it's a level 250 tournament.

Roger is looking for his 6th title here and he won his 1st round match today.

***

It was exactly a year ago this week that he regained his #1 ranking.

Yesterday he relinquished it again to Roland Garros champ Rafael Nadal.

Which means he fell 1 week shy of equaling Sampras' record of #1 weeks.

I wrote when Roger skipped Monte Carlo that that might play a big factor.

It did. And for a man well studied in the history of tennis - it had to sting.

***

Looking at what Rafa & Roger have coming up and the points defending...

I don't see how Roger can possibly get back to #1 before the US Open.

Years ago Roger modified his schedule because he was a weekend warrior.

He may need to modify it again soon - this year he has been losing earlier.

In 8 tournaments played this year he's been to the final weekend 4 times.