Roger Federer Wins Ninth Halle Title

Swiss player Roger Federer won the ATP Tournament on grass in Halle, Germany for the ninth time on Sunday, delivering a severe punishment to young German Alexander Zverev in the final with a score of 6-1, 6-3 in 52 minutes.

After one year and two months of resting, the 35-year-old Swiss, winner of 18 Grand Slam titles and current world No. 5, demonstrated great form one week before the start of Wimbledon, his main objective for the year.

Zverev, 20 years old and world No. 12, was completely overwhelmed in the first set.

"I played super well, I felt good from the beginning of the match," said the former world No. 1.

"It was by far my best match of the week. After my long break, I have excellent sensations. I have regained the pleasure of playing and I am in form for Wimbledon," declared the acclaimed Swiss tennis player.

Federer is preparing for his return to Wimbledon, where he will seek his eighth title on the London grass, which would make him the most successful player in that tournament.

The German tournament in Halle is played on grass and offers a prize of 1,836,660 euros.

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Federer defeated Russian Karen Khachanov (38th ATP) in two sets, 6-4 and 7-6 (7-5). "I knew it was going to be a close match, especially in that second set. I am just happy to have been able to win that tiebreak," said the Swiss, who in the second round in Halle eliminated Mischa Zverev, Alexander's brother.

Winner of 18 Grand Slam titles, Federer is preparing for his return to Wimbledon 2017, where he will seek his eighth title on the London grass, which would make him the most successful player in the history of that tournament.

Facing Federer in the Halle final will be Alexander Zverev, who won the Rome Masters 1000 in May and defeated Frenchman Richard Gasquet (world No. 30) in the semifinals of the German tournament on Saturday with a score of 4-6, 6-4 and 6-3.

Zverev, who will aspire to his fifth title on Sunday, had already defeated Gasquet this year in the final of the Montpellier tournament in February. In the semifinals of Halle in 2016, Zverev defeated Federer in three sets.