FEDERER FACES MAYER IN HALLE, ISNER INSPIRES AMERICAN HOPE AT QUEEN’S CLUB

Written by: Staff on 18th June 2015

FEDERER FACES MAYER IN HALLE, ISNER INSPIRES AMERICAN HOPE AT QUEEN'S CLUB

John Isner of the US reacts after winning a point against Feliciano Lopez of Spain during the second round match of the Aegon tennis championships at the Queens Club in London, Britain 18 June 2015. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA |

Federer faces Mayer in Halle, Isner inspires American hope at Queen’s Club

By Ricky Dimon

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

Roger Federer and Florian Mayer will be going head-to-head for the sixth time in their careers when they collide in the quarterfinals of the Gerry Weber Open on Friday. Federer has won all five of their previous encounters, including two in Halle. The Swiss won their first-ever meeting 6-2, 6-4 at this event 10 years ago and he prevailed 6-4, 7-5 in 2012. They most recently faced each other on the clay courts of Hamburg in 2013, when Federer got the job done via a 7-6(4), 3-6, 7-5 decision.

It’s hard to see Mayer turning the tide given that he is really just now coming off a long injury-induced absence. The 31-year-old German had been sidelined by a hip issue from the 2014 Miami Masters until Monte-Carlo this spring. He went 1-5 at the ATP level during the clay-court swing and even struggled in two Challengers. Out of just about nowhere, though, the world No. 487 has defeated difficult opponents in Jan-Lennard Struff and Steve Johnson this week in Halle.

It does not help Mayer that he has to go up against Federer, who is a two-time defending champion of this event. In fact, the second-ranked Swiss has won it a grand total of seven times and his lifetime record in Halle stands at an intimidating 48-5. Federer has advanced so far by taking out Philipp Kohlschreiber (in a third-set tiebreaker) and Ernests Gulbis.

More drama has been in the cards at the AEGON Champions, much of which has involved No. 1 American John Isner. After getting past countryman Jared Donaldson in round one, Isner outlasted Feliciano Lopez 7-6(5), 6-7(9), 7-6(4) on Thursday in a showdown that featured zero breaks of serve.

Isner-Lopez was the fourth best-of-three ATP match of the season that went to three tiebreakers without one service break. One, not surprisingly, had already involved Isner (he defeated Milos Raonic 6-7(3), 7-6(6), 7-6(5) in Miami). The others saw David Ferrer get past Ivo Karlovic in Doha and Raonic overcome Kei Nishikori in Brisbane.

Feliciano Lopez of Spain returns the ball against John Isner of the US during the second round match of the Aegon tennis championships at the Queens Club in London, Britain 18 June 2015. EPA/FACUNDO ARRIZABALAGA

Isner and Lopez also set a record for the most combined aces in a best-of-three tilt since the ATP began recording aces in 1991. Isner blasted 36 (the most of his career in best-of-three situations) and Lopez struck 29 for a combined 65 that broke the previous mark of 62 set by Juan Martin Del Potro and Daniel Brands three years ago in Vienna.

Despite playing the famous 70-68 in the fifth set marathon against Nicolas Mahut at Wimbledon in 2010, Isner has generally struggled on grass throughout his career. So, too, have the American men as a whole since the end of the Andy Roddick era. But not only is Isner picking up grass-court confidence at Queen’s Club, but he is also keeping himself in contention for a top 16 seed at the All-England Club.

The world No. 18 will battle Viktor Troicki on Friday for a place in the semifinals. Troicki leads the head-to-head series 3-2.

Ricky contributes to 10sballs.com and also maintains his own tennis website, The Grandstand.

Topics: AEGON Championships, Feliciano Lopez, Florian Mayer, Gerry Weber Open, Halle, John Isner, London, Ricky Dimon, Roger Federer, Sports, Tennis News

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10sBalls_com says:

June 18, 2015 at 8:07 pm

@rogerfederer FACES MAYER IN #HALLE, @JohnIsner INSPIRES AMERICAN HOPE AT QUEENS CLUB http://t.co/EuKlR6ZYP7 #QueensClub #AegonChampionships