Halle 2017: Grass master Roger Federer sails past Sascha Zverev to claim ninth title
Roger Federer beats Alexander Zverev in two sets to win the Gerry Weber Open in Halle for a ninth time as he now turns his focus to Wimbledon
It could not have worked out better for the Gerry Weber Open on this its silver anniversary.
The Halle tournament is celebrating 25 years as one of the most important grass tournaments ahead of Wimbledon. But while the date may be silver, the final line-up was pure gold. And even though the weather had decided not to co-operate, the Halle tournament has always had one trick up its sleeve: a translucent roof that glides silently into place over the impressive centre stadium.
Not unlike the star of the final match, then: Roger Federer has plied his tennis trade with the same apparently effortless glide across a court, and on grass, his footwork is as silent as the oiled wheels in that roof.
Federer put it thus: “I think the feel on the grass is great: it’s soft, it’s quiet, you don’t hear the squeaking of the shoes like on hard courts. I just feel like that it’s a very calming surface.”
The proof has been in the pudding: The Swiss has won more grass titles, 15, more grass matches, 156, and more Halle titles, eight, from more Halle finals, 11, than anyone else. As he took to court in an attempt to increase all those numbers, he had notched up a 58-6 record in a tournament where he has been adored as much as any German champion.
But the thousands who would pack out the Gerry Weber Stadion on this Sunday afternoon faced a dilemma, for Federer took on Germany’s brightest star, the 20-year-old Alexander Zverev—Sascha—just a month or so after the strapping young man with a fast-growing fan-base broke the top 10 with the Rome Masters title.
And not unlike Federer, Zverev is a tennis gift both on and off court. This attractive, self-assured German is fluent in three languages and entirely at ease with his media commitments. He combines huge power from the back of the court with surprising agility in the front of the court, honed by the doubles tennis he plays with his elder brother. Indeed, Sascha would join elder brother Mischa in the doubles final here immediately after the singles.
But perhaps his greatest strength is his confidence and mental determination. Witness his two comebacks against inspired opposition to reach the final, first No7 seed Roberto Bautista Agut and then Richard Gasquet. And in the course of rising from 85 at the start of last year to the top 10, he has demonstrated that most important quality of all: a refusal to be beaten.
He could even count a victory over Federer on this very turf, in the semis last year, though the Swiss was not in his usual shape after having knee surgery and back problems between the Australian Open and the grass season. This year, after six months of rest and recuperation, Federer was a rejuvenated player, with the Australian, Indian Wells and Miami titles under his belt—plus another long stint of recovery and training.
Zverev, too, had been one of the players of the season, with three titles of his own, and admitted he was stronger this year than when he met Federer a year ago, but also knew that the Swiss was fitter:
“Yes, definitely I think physically I’m stronger. I’ve done a lot of work. And obviously, he took a lot of time off where he worked a lot physically. His legs are bigger again. I think he moves quicker. That’s why he’s doing so well this year as well.”
It was a typically clear-sighted and mature assessment from this impressive young player.
So these two favourites of Halle, separated by 15 years but with three titles each this year, one win apiece against the other, and both enjoyed strong ‘home’ support, would bid to become either the oldest or the youngest ever winner in the tournament’s 25-year history.
No wonder there was not a seat to be had.
Certainly in the opening moments, it sounded as though Federer had more than a little edge over his young rival for the support of the crowd: The roof almost blew off with the roar that greeted him, and did so again as he delivered a deft drop-shot winner on the second point. Indeed there was near uproar for the first three blistering games.
He broke in the first game to love courtesy of three winners, held to 15, and pulled off a superb drop, lob, volley combo for break point in the third game—though Zverev played his own part with a tweener mid rally. But it was a break and 3-0.
Federer delivered a 202kph ace for a love hold, and threatened another break in the fifth game, but the young player got on the board with a couple of cracking forehands.
Surprisingly, perhaps, Federer was only delivering 50 percent of his first serves, but he still dropped just three points in the set on serve, bamboozling Zverev with variety in pace, placement, spin and with hyper-aggressive follow-ups the net. The Swiss man’s drop shots were breaking up the German’s rhythm, too: It was a masterclass.
Sure enough, Federer claimed the set with another break, 6-1, after just 22 minutes. And the crowd loved every brief minute
There was a communal intake of breath when Zverev hurtled into the net in the third game and slid awkwardly to the grass, grimacing over a twisted ankle. But Federer had won the point and game, 2-1. Now the crowd was willing Zverev on, and he gamely got back into the match with barely a pause, holding off break point for 2-2.
But Federer had continued to fire freely from the baseline and head into the net at every opportunity. He broke in the fourth game and held for 5-2, but Zverev produced his best service game of the match to hold to love, and got a deserved rapturous reward. But there was no turning Federer from this task, and he served it out to claim his ninth Halle title after only 53 minutes.
The champion, who enjoyed a long ovation worthy of a German winner, had lost only two points in 28 first serves, but it was his all-court speed, variety, touch and tactical sharpness that impressed.
If any of his colleagues or fans had doubts about his readiness for the grass swing after 10 weeks away when he lost in his first match in Stuttgart, they were put right here. It is hard to see a stronger favourite come Wimbledon.
Zverev certainly thought so, and was generous in his praise of a man he has admired throughout his short career:
“Your tennis was awesome. I don’t think we’ll ever see tennis like yours again.” Then added, with a smile: “But you could have let me win more than four games!”
Yes, he is young player who will win many more fans before his time is done.
After smiling through a moving rendition of the Swiss national anthem, he told his fans:
“I don’t know if I’m going to win it again, so I’m going to enjoy this one as much as possible.”
He has a life-time contract with the tournament so, short of retirement or injury, it is hard to see him missing his defence next year, and almost as hard to see him leaving Halle without No10.
