FEDERER IN FINE FORM AHEAD OF WIMBLEDON
Halle WestFalen ( Germany), June 20: Roger Federer began his last week of preWimbledon competition with a 6- 3, 6- 4 defeat of Slovene Aljaz Bedene on Tuesday to reach the second round of the ATP Halle grass event.
The world number one needs to lift a record 10th title here on Sunday in order to remain at the summit of the rankings and assure himself the top seeding at Wimbledon starting a week from Monday.
“I got out of the box well, I felt good right away,” Federer said.
“This is an easier court to play than last week in Stuttgart. The ball bounces up higher into my strike zone. I was connecting well on returns and I could read his serve.
“I played a solid first set once I figured out how to break him. In the second I was able to hold all of my serves. For a first round and without much play n this court, It was fine, I’m very happy.”
Federer’s straightforward victory in 71 minutes marked his 17th straight on the grass dating to June, 2017, when he lost in Stuttgart to Tommy Haas. The Halle defending champion, who has a laneway leading to the stadium named in his honour, has won exactly half of his 18 grass trophies at the wooded north German venue.
Federer took back the top ranking from Rafael Nadal for the second time this season last week in Stuttgart.
KYRGIOS BEATS
MURRAY
In London, Andy Murray endured a frustrating return from his injury nightmare as the former world number one was beaten 2- 6, 7- 6 ( 7/ 4), 7- 5 by temperamental Australian Nick Kyrgios in the Queen’s Club first round on Tuesday.
Murray gave an encouraging display in his first competitive match in 11 months after finally recovering from the hip problem that required surgery in January. But the 31year- old Scot couldn’t secure a fairytale comeback as Kyrgios hit back to knock out the five- time winner of the Wimbledon warmup event.
HALEP TO SKIP EASTBOURNE French Open champion Simona Halep will miss next week’s Wimbledon warm- up at Eastbourne after suffering an Achilles problem.
Halep won her first Grand Slam title earlier this month after lifting the silverware at Roland Garros with a victory over Sloane Stephens.