AN ATP MASTERS SERIES EVENT
11th - 19th OCTOBER
ATP News : 2006
Federer Equals Borg's Grass Court Streak with 4th Halle Title
Roger Federer ended an unexpectedly grueling week in Halle with his fourth consecutive Gerry Weber Open title and a share of the longest grass court winning streak after defeating Czech Tomas Berdych 6-0, 6-7(5), 6-2 in Sunday's final
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The Swiss ATP World No. 1 and three-time defending champion came into the tournament an overwhelming favorite but needed to win four consecutive three-set matches from the second round on to achieve a career first - winning a title four straight times. Federer's sternest test came in the quarterfinals against Belgian Olivier Rochus when he needed to save four match points before advancing in three tie-break sets. Federer had the chance to close out the final 6-0, 6-3 when he served for the match at 5-3 in the second set, but Berdych broke and went on to claim the set in a tie-break. Appearing Sunday in his 15th consecutive final, Federer won his 41st straight match on grass, equaling the Open Era grass court winning streak of five-time Wimbledon champion Bjorn Borg set between 1976-81. (Federer's arch rival Rafael Nadal holds the longest Open Era clay court winning streak, which he extended to 60 matches after beating Federer in the Roland Garros final.) Federer clinched his fifth title of the year (Doha, Australian Open, ATP Masters Series Indian Wells, Miami, Halle) in his ninth final of 2006. Federer improved to 49-4 on the year, with his only losses coming to Nadal, all in finals (ATP Masters Series Monte-Carlo and Roma, Dubai and Roland Garros). |