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Roger Federer kick-starts Wimbledon preparations with win at Halle Open

Roger Federer, 39, is playing his fourth tournament of the season following Doha, Geneva, and a run to the fourth round at Roland Garros, where he withdrew ahead of his clash with Matteo Berrettini in order to protect his body ahead of the grass-court season

Tuesday 15 June 2021 16:25, UK

ATP Tour Singles, Men, 1st Round, Ivashka (Belarus) - Federer (Switzerland). Roger Federer waves after his victory. Photo by: Friso Gentsch/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
Image: Roger Federer appeared rusty in his first match on grass since losing the 2019 Wimbledon final (Photo by: Friso Gentsch/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

Roger Federer said he was "excited to be back on grass" after cruising to victory in his first match since withdrawing from the French Open to protect his body.

The record 10-time winner in Halle is back playing after battling past two knee surgeries in 2020.

He deciding to quit Roland Garros ahead of his fourth-round clash with Italian Matteo Berrettini after a gruelling four-set victory over German Dominik Koepfer.

But he kick-started his Wimbledon preparations with a 7-6 (7-4) 7-5 win over Belarusian Ilya Ivashka.

ATP Tour Singles, Men, 1st Round, Ivashka (Belarus) - Federer (Switzerland). Roger Federer clenches his fist after his victory. Photo by: Friso Gentsch/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
Image: Federer admits he has missed playing on grass as he aims for an 11th title in Halle

"[I] had a tough moment early on in the first set when he had break points, so that was crucial to get out of those," Federer said in his on-court interview.

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"And then I played a really good tie-break, which I was happy about. I think as the match went on I started to create more opportunities and started to also calm my nerves a bit.

"I'm excited to be back on the green grass. And getting a win is obviously always very nice."

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Federer will now face Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the second round in Germany.

He added: "I missed it. I hadn't played a tournament [on grass] in two years on this surface.

"I've done the hard courts, I've done the clay and now [I am] on the grass. It's been great being back here in Halle. I love playing here."

Tennis: ATP Tour Singles, Men, 1st Round, Medvedev, Russia - Struff, Germany. Daniil Medvedev throws a ball to serve. Photo by: Friso Gentsch/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images
Image: Daniil Medvedev suffered an early exit from the grass-court tournament in Germany (Photo by: Friso Gentsch/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)

World No 2 Daniil Medvedev's Wimbledon preparations suffered a setback when he was bundled out by Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff 7-6 (7-3) 6-3.

Medvedev, who suffered a quarter-final exit at the French Open, will hope he rediscovers his touch on grass before he resumes his pursuit of a maiden Grand Slam title at Wimbledon starting June 28.

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