ROGER FEDERER SAVES A GILLETTE CLOSE SHAVE IN HALLE TENNIS OPENER

Written by: Staff on 15th June 2015

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, Atp, Cheryl Jones, Gerry Weber Open, Halle, Roger Federer, Tennis News

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10sBalls_com says:

June 15, 2015 at 4:24 pm

-@rogerfederer SAVES A GILLETTE CLOSE SHAVE IN #HALLE #TENNIS OPENER- http://t.co/qFqGbaiXps #GerryWeberOpen #Federer @GERRYWEBERWORLD
StacTennis says:

June 15, 2015 at 7:47 pm

RT @TennisNewsOne: ROGER FEDERER SAVES A GILLETTE CLOSE SHAVE IN HALLE TENNIS OPENER http://t.co/PDGvnIQMwR #tennis