Spoiler:
ATPTour.com looks back at his 10 title runs at the ATP 500 event
Editor's Note: ATPTour.com is resurfacing features to bring fans closer to their favourite players during the current suspension in tournament play. This story was originally published on 23 June 2019.
Roger Federer made history on 23 June 2019, winning his 10th Halle trophy with a 7-6(2), 6-1 victory against David Goffin to triumph at the NOVENTI OPEN.
The 37-year-old became only the second man in the Open Era to win at least 10 titles at a single tournament, joining Rafael Nadal, who has accomplished the feat at three different events (12 at Roland Garros, 11 at Monte-Carlo and Barcelona).
Federer now owns 68 wins in Halle. This was his 13th final (10-3) at the ATP 500 tournament. ATPTour.com takes a look at his 10 victories in Halle...
2019 def. David Goffin 7-6(2), 6-1
Federer was fresh off of his first clay-court campaign since 2016. But the Swiss had no problem transitioning to the grass, battling through three-setters in two of his first three matches before sprinting away for his 10th title after a 7-6(2), 6-1 triumph against Goffin in the championship match.
The 37-year-old won 95 per cent of his service games during the week, and he did not lose his serve in the final against Goffin. Federer dominated with his first serve — winning 83 per cent of those points — and broke the Belgian three times in the second set to finish off his run to the title.
2017 def. Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-3
Following his magical run to the 2017 Australian Open title after returning from injury, as well as trophies in Indian Wells and Miami that followed, Federer elected to skip the clay-court season for the first time. However, upon his return in Stuttgart, he lost in the first round, putting pressure on the Swiss to find his form in Halle.
Federer alleviated any concerns by winning his ninth title at the ATP 500 tournament, rolling through the field without dropping a set. In the final, he won 93 per cent of first-serve points in a straightforward victory against then-World No. 12 Alexander Zverev. Federer went on to capture his eighth Wimbledon title.
2015 def. Andreas Seppi 7-6(1), 6-4
Earlier in the 2015, Federer was upset by Andreas Seppi in the third round of the Australian Open, his earliest exit in Melbourne since 2001. But not only did the Swiss get his revenge in Indian Wells, he also defeated the Italian in straight sets in the Halle final.
His toughest test came in the first round, overcoming home favourite Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6(8), 3-6, 7-6(5). That second set was the only set Federer dropped in the tournament.
2014 def. Alejandro Falla 7-6(2), 7-6(3)
Federer’s first tournament after suffering a surprising fourth-round loss at 2014 Roland Garros came in Halle. Although he lost his first set of the week against Joao Sousa, the Swiss won his next six sets to lift the trophy.
It proved to be good Wimbledon preparation for Federer, who lost only one set on his way to the final in London. But he ultimately fell short in a five-set thriller against Novak Djokovic.
2013 def. Mikhail Youzhny 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4
Federer claimed his lone 6-0, 6-0 victory in 75 matches in Halle in the 2013 quarter-finals against Mischa Zverev. But from there it got tougher, needing three sets in both the semi-finals and final. Nevertheless, Federer prevailed, saving the two break points he faced to beat Mikhail Youzhny in the championship match. The title did not lead to Wimbledon success, though, as Federer lost in the second round to Sergiy Stakhovsky.
2008 def. Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4
The Swiss put on a serving clinic to claim his fifth Halle trophy, winning the title without losing his serve or a set throughout the week. Federer’s closest set was 7-5, and that came in the second round against Jan Vacek.
Federer rode that momentum to the Wimbledon final, which he reached without losing a set. But he would fall in the final against Rafael Nadal, 7-9 in the fifth set, in what was one of the greatest matches in tennis history.
2006 def. Tomas Berdych 6-0, 6-7(4), 6-2
Federer has had no more difficult run to a Halle title than his path in 2006. He won four consecutive three-setters, including a 6-0, 6-7(4), 6-2 victory in the final against Tomas Berdych, who had beaten him two years earlier at the Athen Olympics. Federer saved four match points in a 6-7(2), 7-6(9), 7-6(5) quarter-final triumph against Olivier Rochus.
It turned out to be one of the 12 titles Federer won in 2006, which remains a personal record for the Swiss. He tallied a 92-5 record that year.
2005 def. Marat Safin 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4
Federer came within two points of losing in the first round against Robin Soderling, but went on to capture his third consecutive Halle title. The 23-year-old saved five of the six break points he faced and won an impressive 74 per cent of his second-serve points against Marat Safin in the two-hour, five-minute final.
The Swiss’ Halle run began a streak of 35 consecutive matches won, lasting until the final of the Tennis Masters Cup in November.
Watch Federer's Best Shots In Halle:
2004 def. Mardy Fish 6-0, 6-3
This was Federer’s most dominant run to a Halle victory, dropping only 26 games in five matches. It was also his most lopsided championship triumph, losing just three games against then-World No. 23 Mardy Fish. Federer would go on to win his next three tournaments as well, including his second Wimbledon trophy.
2003 def. Nicolas Kiefer 6-1, 6-3
Making his fourth appearance in Halle, Federer came in looking for his first grass-court title. He twice rallied from a set down - against Fernando Vicente in the second round and Mikhail Youzhny in the semis – before conceding just four games to Nicolas Kiefer in the final, where he didn’t face a break point. Federer took that confidence into Wimbledon, where he claimed his first Grand Slam title.
Editor's Note: ATPTour.com is resurfacing features to bring fans closer to their favourite players during the current suspension in tournament play. This story was originally published on 23 June 2019.
Roger Federer made history on 23 June 2019, winning his 10th Halle trophy with a 7-6(2), 6-1 victory against David Goffin to triumph at the NOVENTI OPEN.
The 37-year-old became only the second man in the Open Era to win at least 10 titles at a single tournament, joining Rafael Nadal, who has accomplished the feat at three different events (12 at Roland Garros, 11 at Monte-Carlo and Barcelona).
Federer now owns 68 wins in Halle. This was his 13th final (10-3) at the ATP 500 tournament. ATPTour.com takes a look at his 10 victories in Halle...
2019 def. David Goffin 7-6(2), 6-1
Federer was fresh off of his first clay-court campaign since 2016. But the Swiss had no problem transitioning to the grass, battling through three-setters in two of his first three matches before sprinting away for his 10th title after a 7-6(2), 6-1 triumph against Goffin in the championship match.
The 37-year-old won 95 per cent of his service games during the week, and he did not lose his serve in the final against Goffin. Federer dominated with his first serve — winning 83 per cent of those points — and broke the Belgian three times in the second set to finish off his run to the title.
2017 def. Alexander Zverev 6-1, 6-3
Following his magical run to the 2017 Australian Open title after returning from injury, as well as trophies in Indian Wells and Miami that followed, Federer elected to skip the clay-court season for the first time. However, upon his return in Stuttgart, he lost in the first round, putting pressure on the Swiss to find his form in Halle.
Federer alleviated any concerns by winning his ninth title at the ATP 500 tournament, rolling through the field without dropping a set. In the final, he won 93 per cent of first-serve points in a straightforward victory against then-World No. 12 Alexander Zverev. Federer went on to capture his eighth Wimbledon title.
2015 def. Andreas Seppi 7-6(1), 6-4
Earlier in the 2015, Federer was upset by Andreas Seppi in the third round of the Australian Open, his earliest exit in Melbourne since 2001. But not only did the Swiss get his revenge in Indian Wells, he also defeated the Italian in straight sets in the Halle final.
His toughest test came in the first round, overcoming home favourite Philipp Kohlschreiber 7-6(8), 3-6, 7-6(5). That second set was the only set Federer dropped in the tournament.
2014 def. Alejandro Falla 7-6(2), 7-6(3)
Federer’s first tournament after suffering a surprising fourth-round loss at 2014 Roland Garros came in Halle. Although he lost his first set of the week against Joao Sousa, the Swiss won his next six sets to lift the trophy.
It proved to be good Wimbledon preparation for Federer, who lost only one set on his way to the final in London. But he ultimately fell short in a five-set thriller against Novak Djokovic.
2013 def. Mikhail Youzhny 6-7(5), 6-3, 6-4
Federer claimed his lone 6-0, 6-0 victory in 75 matches in Halle in the 2013 quarter-finals against Mischa Zverev. But from there it got tougher, needing three sets in both the semi-finals and final. Nevertheless, Federer prevailed, saving the two break points he faced to beat Mikhail Youzhny in the championship match. The title did not lead to Wimbledon success, though, as Federer lost in the second round to Sergiy Stakhovsky.
2008 def. Philipp Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4
The Swiss put on a serving clinic to claim his fifth Halle trophy, winning the title without losing his serve or a set throughout the week. Federer’s closest set was 7-5, and that came in the second round against Jan Vacek.
Federer rode that momentum to the Wimbledon final, which he reached without losing a set. But he would fall in the final against Rafael Nadal, 7-9 in the fifth set, in what was one of the greatest matches in tennis history.
2006 def. Tomas Berdych 6-0, 6-7(4), 6-2
Federer has had no more difficult run to a Halle title than his path in 2006. He won four consecutive three-setters, including a 6-0, 6-7(4), 6-2 victory in the final against Tomas Berdych, who had beaten him two years earlier at the Athen Olympics. Federer saved four match points in a 6-7(2), 7-6(9), 7-6(5) quarter-final triumph against Olivier Rochus.
It turned out to be one of the 12 titles Federer won in 2006, which remains a personal record for the Swiss. He tallied a 92-5 record that year.
2005 def. Marat Safin 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4
Federer came within two points of losing in the first round against Robin Soderling, but went on to capture his third consecutive Halle title. The 23-year-old saved five of the six break points he faced and won an impressive 74 per cent of his second-serve points against Marat Safin in the two-hour, five-minute final.
The Swiss’ Halle run began a streak of 35 consecutive matches won, lasting until the final of the Tennis Masters Cup in November.
Watch Federer's Best Shots In Halle:
2004 def. Mardy Fish 6-0, 6-3
This was Federer’s most dominant run to a Halle victory, dropping only 26 games in five matches. It was also his most lopsided championship triumph, losing just three games against then-World No. 23 Mardy Fish. Federer would go on to win his next three tournaments as well, including his second Wimbledon trophy.
2003 def. Nicolas Kiefer 6-1, 6-3
Making his fourth appearance in Halle, Federer came in looking for his first grass-court title. He twice rallied from a set down - against Fernando Vicente in the second round and Mikhail Youzhny in the semis – before conceding just four games to Nicolas Kiefer in the final, where he didn’t face a break point. Federer took that confidence into Wimbledon, where he claimed his first Grand Slam title.
