ROGER FEDERER SAVES A GILLETTE CLOSE SHAVE IN HALLE TENNIS OPENER

Written by: on 15th June 2015
unnamed-41
ROGER FEDERER SAVES A GILLETTE CLOSE SHAVE IN HALLE TENNIS OPENER

Swiss Roger Federer in action against Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber during their first round match for the ATP tournament in Halle/Westfalen, Germany, 15 June 2015. EPA/MAJA HITIJ  |

Cheryl Jones’ Gerry Weber Open Story-Halle’s Welcome Change

 

The Gerry Weber Open began in earnest on Monday, June 15, 2015. The event has been in existence since 1993. The tournament itself was the end product of a dream that Gerry Weber had. The clothing production and sales magnet had a vision that he could fashion a grass tournament that would rival the then 88-year-old Queen’s Club Championships (now known as the Aegon Championships) that had (and still has) always been contested just prior to Wimbledon. Since that dream was manifested as a reality, the event has drawn substantial numbers of the tour’s top-ranked players, and this year is no exception.

 

However, there are a few changes that have been made in Halle, the small town in Westphalia, Germany that is the home of the GWO. The tournament, along with the Aegon Championships, has been upgraded – so to speak – from an ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) 250 level, to an ATP 500 event. The association has three levels that are utilized to classify tournaments – (outside the Slams – Australian Open, Roland Garros, Wimbledon and the US Open – and of course the Year End Championships). The levels are 250, 500, and 1000 tournaments. The winners of each of those levels are awarded points that are used in the “rankings”. The winner of a five hundred level event receives 500 points; the finalist, 300; the semifinalists 180; the quarterfinalists 90 and the Round of 16 players receive 45 points. There are thirteen 500 level events, with only one held in the United States. It is the Citi Open or the Washington Open. (It has been known by a variety of monikers over the years, including the Legg Mason Classic.)

 

The Gerry Weber Open has always been known by the name of its founder. This year is the twenty-third edition of what many feel is a superlative venue to the other warm-up grass court tourneys. The area surrounding the four courts that make up the grounds of the tournament include a beautiful wooded area that surrounds the village of Halle.

 

The GWO has been a community tournament since it began. There is a kinship that seems to grow each year with community volunteers that staff the tournament. It brings the best and brightest tennis players and their families to the event. The hosts are not just the GWO itself, but the citizens of the surrounding area. The grounds are spectacular with a park like setting that is what some might call off the beaten track. There is a world-class hotel and sports park to enhance the property. There are covered practice courts that mimic the grass of the competition surfaces. There is world-class food and other amenities available. And, for the players, there is quiet and no lengthy rides through traffic to reach the venue. Many players call it their favorite place to play.

 

The real star of the show is the Centre Court. It has a closeable roof that can eliminate rain delays in 88 seconds flat. At any threat of a shower, the roof closes and play continues without a need for a lengthy delay that might be cause for angst among the contestants who are anxious to move on to London and the stately lawns of Wimbledon in a timely fashion.

 

During the past twenty-two tournaments, winners have included some of the best competitors tennis has known. Frenchman, Henri Leconte defeated Ukrainian, Andrei Medvedev in the very first final held in 1993. No American has ever won the tournament, but in 2004, Mardy Fish was runner up to Roger Federer who now has signed a contract to exclusively take part in the tournament until he retires from professional tennis. The 33-year-old Swiss Maestro, who is now a father of four, has won the tournament eight times since his first triumph in 2003 and he continues his quest for “one more” this year.

 

As luck would have it, on this first day of the tournament where he practically owns a spot on center court following the Sunday afternoon singles final, he drew Germany’s, Philipp Kohlschreiber, who is almost a hometown favorite, as an opponent. (Kohlschreiber was the victor here in 2011 when he defeated fellow German, Philipp Petzschner.) Today’s match was featured in the evening and a collective sigh of relief was heard when Federer finally pulled away, 7-6, 3-6, 7-6.

 

Federer has become as famous as the rock stars that have performed in the stadium when the tennis has moved on to surfaces other than grass. There is a street – well, actually it’s an alley – named for him in the village. After a few slips on the surface that is home for tennis for just a few short weeks every year, the Swiss Maestro will see another day of play. And tomorrow will be a day of rest for the man that many believe is the greatest tennis player who has ever graced any court, and not just the carefully tended lawns of Halle.

Swiss Roger Federer celebrates a point against Germany’s Philipp Kohlschreiber during their first round match for the ATP tournament in Halle/Westfalen, Germany, 15 June 2015. EPA/MAJA HITIJ

 

Topics: , , , , , ,








10sBalls Top Stories

In Case You Missed It

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA thumbnail

EUGENIE BOUCHARD NAMED 2018 TENNIS CANADA FEMALE PLAYER OF THE YEAR / EUGENIE BOUCHARD NOMMÉE JOUEUSE DE L’ANNÉE 2018 DE TENNIS CANADA

Tennis Canada announced on Wednesday that Eugenie Bouchard is the winner of the 2018 Excellence Awards in the Female Player of the Year and Singles Player of the Year categories.
TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • CALIFORNIA CHAMPIONSHIPS • TOMMY HAAS, TAYLOR FRITZ, STEVE JOHNSON, MARDY FISH AND MORE

Time to get tickets to watch! Surly you have heard about The Largest Open Tennis Event in America!
TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER thumbnail

TENNIS NEWS • RAFA NADAL CONFIRMS RETURN TO PRACTICE, EYES ABU DHABI EXHIBITION AND AUSTRALIAN SUMMER

According to Uncle Toni, Rafael Nadal was supposed to be back at practice on either Dec. 4 or 5. Well, better late than never!
Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife thumbnail

Conchita Martínez prepara la temporada 2019 de Karolina Pliskova en Tenerife

Española y checa ya trabajaron juntas durante el pasado Open de Estados Unidos
ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS thumbnail

ALEJANDRO’S FAVORITE PHOTOS FOR 10SBALLS FROM SOME OF THIS YEAR’S TOURNAMENTS

Jelena Ostapenko of Latvia hits a forehand to Kaia Kanepi of Estonia during her second round match at the Nature Valley International tennis tournament in Eastbourne, Great Britain, on Tuesday, June 26, 2018.