TENNIS – Roger Federer claimed his 8th Gerry Weber Open title in 10 finals at one of his favourite tournament in Halle with a 7-6(1) 6-4 win over Andreas Seppi. Diego Sampaolo
Seppi, who beat Federer for the first time in his career at the Australian Open last January, did not convert three break points in the first set. He earned two set points which Federer saved with two consecutive aces. In the tiebreaker, Federer took control of the breaker winning 7-1 points and taking a 1 set lead.
Seppi’s inability to convert on break points continued into the 2nd set missed another break point chance at the start of the second set as he hit her return into the net. Federer brought up his first break point chances at 4-3 in the but Seppi saved them to draw level. Federer got his only break of the match at his fifth break point opportunity for 5-4 to then serve out the match. He clinched his 8th title at the Gerry Weber Open and 15th title from 20 finals on grass (seven at Wimbledon and eight in Halle). This is Federer’s fourth title for the year after Brisbane, Dubai and Istanbul. Federer is the third player to win at least eight titles at a single tournament after Rafa Nadal, who won the Roland Garros nine times and Montecarlo and Barcelona eight times and Guillermo Vilas, who won eight titles in Buenos Aires
“Of course it’s a special moment for me to win here for the 8th time before Wimbledon. This week has been great when I look at the whole thing. I don’t think I was broken in the last four matches I played. It gives me confidence in the crucial moments to know my game was right there”, said Federer
Murray wins his 34th title at the Queen’s
Andy Murray clinched his 34th career title in 50 finals with a 6-3 6-4 win over Kevin Anderson at the Aegon Championships at the Queen’s Club. The Dunblane star equalled John McEnroe, Boris Becker, Lleyton Hewitt and Andy Roddick as four-time Queen’s champion. He had already won this tournament in 2009, 2011 and 2013
Murray completed his win over Vikr Troicki with 6-3 7-6 (4) in the semifinal which was interrupted by rain on Saturday. He had a two-hour break before the start of the final against Kevin Anderson. Murray broke serve once in each set and did not face a break point in the final against Anderson who was broken just once in the tournament.
Murray brought up a break point chance with a backhand winner in the fourth game and converted the chance as Anderson his hit his volley into the net. He sealed the win in the first set with a sliced backhand. He earned a break point chance in the fifth game of the second set at 2-2 with a forehand return and converted it with a drop shot. He hit a lob and a backhand winner before closing out the match when Anderson fired wide on a service return
Murray clinched his third title of the year after Munich and Madrid on clay.
“I served really well and then thankfully, when the chances came I managed to come up with some instisnctive shots. I played better as the week went on and hopefully I can continue that into Wimbledon. It’s been a really good start but it’s a long way to go before Wimbledon even starts,” said Murray
Murray will be bidding to repeat his Queen’s – Wimbledon double achieved in 2013.
“It’s great preparation obviously but it has only happened six times where someone has won the Queen’s and gone one to win Wimbledon,” said Murray
Kerber fought back from a set down to edge Pliskova in Birmingham WTA final
Angelique Kerber fought back from a set down to edge Karolina Pliskova with 6-7(5) 6-3 7-6(4) at the Aegon Classic in Birmingham
Kerber broke serve early in the first set but she did not convert on four set points. Pliskova clinched the first-set tie-break. The young Czech player broke serve early in the second set. Kerber turned around the match breaking twice in the second set. The German got another break in the third set but Plsiskova fought back saving break points. Pliskova broke back
Kerber rallied from 5-6 down in the decisive set to hold her serve before getting a mini-break on the ninth point. The German won the next two points from 5-4 to clinch a hard-fought tie-break with 7-4. Kerber hit 34 winners to 14 unforced errors. Pliskova hit more than 50 winners but made 42 unforced errors.
“It was an amazing match and perfect for a final. It will give great confidence in my preparation for Wimbledon”, said Kerber.
Pliskova played a great tournament and had nothing to regret. “I was happy with the way I played because i did everything I could”, said Pliskova
