honoluluadvertiser.com

Sponsored by:

Comment, blog & share photos

Log in | Become a member
The Honolulu Advertiser
Updated at 5:55 a.m., Sunday, June 15, 2008

Tennis: Federer wins Halle for 55th title

Associated Press

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Switzerland's Roger Federer presents the winner cup after he won the final match of the ATP International Series tennis tournament Gerry Weber Open against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber in Halle, western Germany, Sunday, June 15, 2008. Federer won 6-3, 6-4.

ECKEHARD SCHULZ | Associated Press

spacer spacer

HALLE, Germany — Roger Federer extended his grass-court winning streak by capturing his 55th title Sunday with a 6-3, 6-4 win against Philipp Kohlschreiber at the Gerry Weber Open.

Federer ran his record unbeaten run on grass to 59 matches as he sailed through the Wimbledon warmup without dropping set.

The 40th-ranked German netted a backhand after a long rally to end the match.

"I never lost my serve in this tournament, that had never happened to me," Federer said. "That was very special."

The top-ranked Swiss restored some confidence after one of his worst defeats — a rout in the French Open final Sunday at the hands of rival Rafael Nadal in which Federer won just four games.

Federer, who raised his record to 10-0 in grass finals, won Halle for the fifth time. The previous four were followed by Wimbledon triumphs three weeks later.

Federer didn't face a top-10 player, but had an easier time than his last appearance at the event in 2006. He was pushed to three sets in four of his five matches that year.

Federer won Halle for the first time in 2003 — before going on to win his first Wimbledon title — and now has won 24 straight at the tournament, a streak dating back to that year.