Federer Wins Singles, Doubles Titles at Halle
Posted on June 13, 2005World No. 1 Roger Federer was perfect Sunday at the ATP stop in Halle, outlasting Marat Safin 6-4, 6-7(6), 6-4 to win his third consecutive Halle singles title, then teaming with Swiss countryman Yves Allegro to defeat Joachim Johansson and Safin 7-5, 6-7(6), 6-3 in the doubles final.
"It's my second double-double isn't it?" Federer said. "And the second time with Allegro, so if I want to win doubles it's with Yves. That's important for the future, because the repeat always proves that you can do it. Davis Cup is coming up as well and I'm always happy for Yves when we win."
The singles win extended Federer's Open Era-record unbeaten streak in finals to 20. It was also his 29th consecutive victory on grass, which gives him a tour-leading seven titles for the year, one ahead of Rafael Nadal.
"It's a wonderful feeling and a kind of relief," Federer said. "Having dealt with the defeat in Paris so well, this is surprising for me, too. It's not normal to come here with less grass preparation and win the tournament in the end."
Federer ties former No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov as the only players to win three titles in a row at Halle.
For Safin it was his first final since winning the Australian Open, and his first career grasscourt final.
"This was once again one of these matches when only two or three points decide all the match," Safin said, gaining newfound confidence on a surface that has confounded him in past years. "Today I made one or two bad decisions, and that's it, the match is gone. But the way I played I think, that was really good, I'm satisfied with it...This was probably my best match on grass I've ever played."
It was Federer's first doubles title since 2003 when he won at Vienna and the Masters Series-Miami.
"It's my second double-double isn't it?" Federer said. "And the second time with Allegro, so if I want to win doubles it's with Yves. That's important for the future, because the repeat always proves that you can do it. Davis Cup is coming up as well and I'm always happy for Yves when we win."
The singles win extended Federer's Open Era-record unbeaten streak in finals to 20. It was also his 29th consecutive victory on grass, which gives him a tour-leading seven titles for the year, one ahead of Rafael Nadal.
"It's a wonderful feeling and a kind of relief," Federer said. "Having dealt with the defeat in Paris so well, this is surprising for me, too. It's not normal to come here with less grass preparation and win the tournament in the end."
Federer ties former No. 1 Yevgeny Kafelnikov as the only players to win three titles in a row at Halle.
For Safin it was his first final since winning the Australian Open, and his first career grasscourt final.
"This was once again one of these matches when only two or three points decide all the match," Safin said, gaining newfound confidence on a surface that has confounded him in past years. "Today I made one or two bad decisions, and that's it, the match is gone. But the way I played I think, that was really good, I'm satisfied with it...This was probably my best match on grass I've ever played."
It was Federer's first doubles title since 2003 when he won at Vienna and the Masters Series-Miami.