Wildcard Haas beats Federer in Halle final

Updated June 18, 2012 08:58:00

Germany's Tommy Haas defeated second seed Roger Federer 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 to win the Halle grass court tournament on Monday morning (AEST) and become the ATP's second oldest champion.

Playing in front of his home fans, the 34-year-old wildcard added to his triumph at the same venue three years ago to take his 13th ATP title.

Swiss great Federer, the second seed, was seeking a sixth win at this Wimbledon warm-up event having booked his seventh final ticket with a straight sets semi-final win over unseeded Russian Mikhail Youzhny.

Haas, a former world number two, secured his place in the climax with a defeat of compatriot Philipp Kohlschreiber.

After claiming the title Haas said: "This has been one of the best weeks of my career, but I reckon I won't really appreciate what's happened until this evening.

"If someone had said to me beforehand that I was going to beat Roger Federer, probably the best player of all time, I would have thought they were mad.

"It's a special moment knowing that four months ago I didn't know if I would be able to play at this level again. It's a life lesson," said the injury-plagued Haas, who only recently returned to the tour after a 14-month absence.

In that time, he underwent hip and right shoulder surgery which sent his ranking plummeting to 200.

He came into Halle at 87 in the world with Monday's victory expected to move him back into the world top 50.

France's Fabrice Santoro remains the oldest champion, winning the 2008 Newport tournament when he was 35.

"This would normally be the perfect time to retire, but I am not ready. I hope to play on for a long time," added the German, who went through qualifying at the French Open last month before going onto to reach the third round.

He has also been awarded a wildcard into Wimbledon.

Federer was magnanimous in defeat, saying: "Tommy has performed well throughout, I'm thrilled for him."

Federer, the record 16-time Grand Slam title winner, said he will head to Wimbledon "probably on Thursday".

"It would be great to win there for a seventh time," he said.

Monday's victory was Haas's third career win over Federer after beating his better-fancied rival at Halle in the semi-finals in 2005 and 2006, against 10 defeats, the last in the semi-finals at Wimbledon in 2009.

Federer broke to lead 3-1 in the opening set but proceeded to lose three successive games to find himself trailing 4-3.

Haas went on to clinch the set on a winning serve in 50 minutes.

In the second set, Haas broke to lead 5-4 and serve for the match, winning when Federer put a return long.

AFP

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First posted June 18, 2012 08:58:00

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Hewitt eases into Halle quarters

Posted June 10, 2011 06:19:00

Defending champion Lleyton Hewitt had few problems as he set up a quarter-final clash against crowd favourite Philipp Kohlschreiber at Halle's ATP grasscourt tournament.

The Australian won his second-round match against Italy's Andreas Seppi 6-4, 6-4 in one hour and 20 minutes.

With Wimbledon starting in 10 days' time, former world number one Hewitt admitted he was glad to have got a hard-fought match under his belt.

"This match was good, though it was a tough battle for me," the 30-year-old Hewitt said.

"Seppi had already played well against quality players. I remember him playing very well against James Blake at Wimbledon, so I know he plays well on grass.

"I was able to keep the ball flat and I am a little surprised about my performance.

"I feel pretty comfortable playing out there. Every time I come back from injuries, I noticed my ball-striking always comes back quickly and easily.

"It is the adjustment and the feeling for the court that is the thing missing."

Germany's Kohlschreiber awaits in the last eight clash after he enjoyed a 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) victory over seventh-seeded Ukrainian Alexandr Dolgopolov.

"Obviously Kohlschreiber is a quality player, who has come far in this tournament so I have to watch out," said Hewitt, who is also still involved in the doubles.

"I'd like to execute my game like I did today, that would be great."

Monfils through

French third-seed Gael Monfils is also into the quarter-finals and faces another German opponent in sixth-seed Florian Mayer.

The 24-year-old Monfils saw off Croatia's Ivan Dodig 6-2, 6-3, but admitted he is not a natural on grass and was looking to improve his game ahead of Wimbledon.

"I really feel good, especially because I moved well," said Monfils, who beat compatriot Florent Serra in straight sets in the first round.

"I am happy about that, because I do have problems adjusting to grass. In the last 10 days before Wimbledon, I want to improve my overall game further still - serve faster and stronger and work on my movement.

"Last year, I was terrible on grass, because that surface does not come natural to me, so this year I am happy, I want to continue improving.

"All in all, after this second easy win, I think I have made a good debut on grass here in Halle."

Mayer enjoyed a 7-6 (7-4), 3-6, 6-4 win over Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun.

He fired down 13 aces on the firm Halle turf which is favouring the big hitters, but says Monfils starts as favourite in their quarter-final.

"In my opinion, Monfils is slighty ahead as the favourite," Mayer said.

"I'm surprised how well he is playing on court here, but I must play my own game and let form on the day decide.

"I will have to get things right under pressure and play my game, otherwise it will be really difficult."

In the other quarter-finals, Germany's Philipp Petzschner will play Canada's rising star Milos Raonic and top seed Tomas Berdych will play fifth seed Viktor Troicki of Serbia.

-AFP

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Hewitt advances in Halle

Published:Wednesday, June 8, 2011 10:02 AEST

Lleyton Hewitt returns the ball to Argentina's Leonardo Mayer during the third day match of the ATP tennis tournament in Halle, Germany on June 8, 2011. Hewitt won in two sets 6-2, 6-3.

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Hewitt happy despite Halle exit

Updated June 11, 2011 09:01:00

Defending champion Lleyton Hewitt was in good spirits despite his exit from Halle's ATP grasscourt tournament, after he went down in straight sets to Philipp Kohlschreiber in Friday's quarter-final.

Kohlschreiber is into Halle's semi-finals for the fourth time in his career after securing a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 win over the former world number one in exactly 90 minutes.

"It could have gone either way. It was very tight in the first set, I didn't have a lot of luck in the tie break," admitted Hewitt with Wimbledon set to start on June 20.

"He played extremely well and served well throughout the entire match. It's been perfect preparation for me here after a few months out.

"I didn't come here with any expectations and it's been nice to get some matches here and feel comfortable on the grass."

Kohlschreiber smashed down 14 aces, compared to the Australian's nine, in a hard-fought match and the defeat means Hewitt, who is making his comeback after ankle surgery, is now set to drop out of the top 100 in the ATP rankings.

"Today, I could see an improvement in my game - everything was just fine and I often had a bit of luck on my side," said Kohlschreiber.

"I couldn't do much wrong. This match was good - although he is coming back from injury, Lleyton Hewitt is still one of the best players in the world.

"Now the bar has been set high. The next game will be hard, no matter who is on the other side of the net. Form on the day will decide the match."

It was Kohlschreiber's strong serve which carried him to victory and he will play Gael Monfils, ranked ninth in the world, in Saturday's semi-final after the Frenchman beat Germany's Florian Mayer 6-4, 6-4 in little over an hour.

"I am happy," beamed Monfils, who has won over the crowds here.

"I came here with the expectation to play like a top-10 player and I did that.

"It is always tough for me to adjust to grass. Last year I played three rounds in Wimbledon and this year I wanted to have a good comeback on grass.

"My movement on the court is great and I know, it will be a good match against Philipp (Kohlschreiber).

"I am happy that I have had such a good preparation for Wimbledon here in Halle."

After the withdrawal of world number three Roger Federer on Monday, Tomas Berdych became the top seed and the winner of the 2007 tournament had few problems as he enjoyed a 7-6 (7-3), 6-1 win over fifth seed Viktor Troicki.

The firm surface at Halle is favouring the strong hitters and this was a battle of the big guns as Berdych smashed down 13 aces, compared to the Serbian's 11, as both players contributed to 14 aces in the first set alone.

Berdych will meet Philipp Petzschner in his semi-final after the German booked his place by knocking out eighth-seeded Canadian newcomer Milos Raonic.

In a tough last-eight match, Petzschner needed nearly two hours to prevail over 20-year-old Raonic and seal a 6-3, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3 win.

"It was a tight match on a knife edge. I nearly won it in the second set," said Petzschner, who also reached the semi-finals here last year.

-AFP

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First posted June 11, 2011 08:02:00

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Kohlscreiber wins in Halle

Published:Monday, June 13, 2011 8:17 AEST

Philipp Kohlschreiber celebrates winning the ATP event in Halle, Germany at the Gerry Weber stadium on June 12, 2011.

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Federer pulls out of Halle tournament

Posted June 7, 2011 06:43:00

Roger Federer pulled out of the Halle grasscourt tournament on Monday a day after losing the French Open final to Rafa Nadal, tournament officials said on Monday.

Federer was due to play Australia's Lleyton Hewitt in the opening round.

"I've unfortunately had to pull out of the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, Germany," said the Swiss world number three.

"I am very disappointed as it is one of my favorite tournaments on the ATP World Tour, but my body and especially my groin need a rest after the French Open."

"After talking with my team this morning, I feel that it is too big a risk to take a chance and aggravate it before Wimbledon."

But tournament organisers were left fuming over Federer's withdrawal.

"All the plans throughout the year were almost exclusively focused on Roger's start here," said tournament director Ralf Weber.

"He also never indicated that there could be health problems there. I made my disappointment clear to his management."

The small Halle event is seen as a lower-key Wimbledon preparation event than the Queen's Club tournament in London.

- Reuters

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Hewitt to face Federer first up at Halle

Posted June 5, 2011 09:14:00

Lleyton Hewitt's prospects of a gentle warm-up for Wimbledon have been shattered by the news he has drawn to play Roger Federer in the opening round of next week's ATP tour event in Germany.

The contest will be Hewitt's first competitive outing in three months following foot surgery in March.

Hewitt snapped a 15-match losing streak against Federer in last year's final of the grass court tournament at Halle.

Judging by the Swiss superstar's victory in Friday's semi-final win over Novak Djokovic at the French Open, Hewitt could be in for a torrid return to action.

Six-time Wimbledon champion Federer's showings in Paris suggested he is going to be incredibly tough work on grass for any player this year, let alone one on the comeback trail.

If world number 67 Hewitt loses in the opening round, he may slip out of the world's top 100 and leave Australia without a men's singles player with a double digit ranking.

Hewitt, who was a late withdrawal from Roland Garros last month, must consider himself highly unlucky to have drawn Federer first-up in the 32-man draw.

The Australian is trying to cram in as many matches as possible before the third grand slam of the year and will play in Eastbourne, England, in the week before Wimbledon.

- AAP

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Hewitt set for Halle comeback

Posted June 2, 2011 20:22:00

Injury-troubled Lleyton Hewitt is set to fast-track his Wimbledon preparations by cramming in as many matches as possible at Halle and Eastbourne in the next fortnight.

The former Wimbledon champion is expected to play in his first tournament in three months at the ATP event in Germany following his late withdrawal from the French Open last month.

Hewitt has in the past tended to play only one tournament on grass in the lead-up to the third grand slam of year.

However he is desperately trying to gain as much match fitness as possible before a 13th straight trip to the famed south-west London venue.

There have been concerns over the former world No.1's fragile body following foot surgery in March.

The official reason given for him pulling out just hours before being due to walk onto court at Roland Garros was a left ankle complaint.

But it is understood he has suffered a flare up of a toe injury.

"He will definitely be heading to Halle next week (to defend his title)," said his manager David Drysdale.

"Everything seems to be going OK.

"Lleyton has been getting out on the court and had some treatment."

Grass has been the former world No.1's most successful surface, having won 101 of 125 matches on it during his career.

Only once in his last seven visits to Wimbledon has he been defeated by a player outside the top six.

Hewitt upset Roger Federer in the final in Halle last year before the Australian had his progress at Wimbledon stopped in the fourth round by Novak Djokovic in four sets.

"He has always enjoyed playing on the surface and it is a surface that he has done well on," said Drysdale.

"He wants to play as many matches as he can before Wimbledon."

The South Australian has not played since an opening round loss at Indian Wells in early March.

-AAP

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