Record winner Federer stumbles a bit, but does not fall. As expected, the 39-year-old is on the pitch in Halle in round two. Co-favorite Tsitsipas cancels his participation at short notice.
In the end he has a good laugh: Roger Federer is in the next round.
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Roger Federer had more trouble than expected in his first round match at the lawn tournament in Halle, Westphalia. The qualifier Ilya Ivashka (Belarus) surprisingly challenged the ten-time tournament champion on Monday at 7: 6 (7: 4) and 7: 5 more than expected. However, after more than a year injury break and his voluntary retirement at the French Open, Federer emphasized that he wanted to collect game practice on grass for Wimbledon.
“It wasn’t easy, it never is here. But it just feels good to play on grass again,” said Federer after his fourth and decisive match point. And about his game, the 39-year-old said: “My serve was good and I’m relaxed. But everything can get better.”
David Goffin had to give up the tournament opening match in Halle with an injury of 6: 1 and 5: 7 against the Frenchman Corentin Moutet. The world number 13 had slipped and twisted at the end of the first sentence. In Daniel Altmaier, the first of six German professionals dropped out on the first day. The 22-year-old lost to Jordan Thompson (Australia) 2: 6 and 6: 7 (4: 7).
Tsitsipas cancels participation
French Open finalist Stefanos Tsitsipas did not even start. The Greek, whose grandmother died on Sunday shortly before his final defeat against Novak Djokovic, canceled his participation at short notice. For him, the Karlsruhe Yannick Hanfmann moves up, who meets the qualifier Arthur Rinderknech (France) on Tuesday.
The other German professionals will also play on Tuesday: Alexander Zverev against his Davis Cup colleague Dominik Koepfer, Jan-Lennard Struff has to play against the Russian Daniil Medvedev, who was seeded first; Philipp Kohlschreiber plays against Jurij Rodionow (Austria).
