Federer Ties Borg Grass Streak with 4th Halle Title

The Swiss ATP World No. 1 and three-time defending champion came into the tournament an overwhelming favorite but needed to win four consecutive three-set matches from the second round on to achieve a career first - winning a title four straight times.

Federer's sternest test came in the quarterfinals against Belgian Olivier Rochus when he needed to save four match points before advancing in three tie-break sets. Federer had the chance to close out the final 6-0, 6-3 when he served for the match at 5-3 in the second set, but Berdych broke and went on to claim the set in a tie-break.

Appearing Sunday in his 15th consecutive final, Federer won his 41st straight match on grass, equaling the Open Era grass court winning streak of five-time Wimbledon champion Bjorn Borg set between 1976-81. (Federer's arch rival Rafael Nadal holds the longest Open Era clay court winning streak, which he extended to 60 matches after beating Federer in the Roland Garros final.)

Federer clinched his fifth title of the year (Doha, Australian Open, ATP Masters Series Indian Wells, Miami, Halle) in his ninth final of 2006. Federer improved to 49-9 on the year, with his only losses coming to Nadal, all in finals (ATP Masters Series Monte-Carlo and Roma, Dubai and Roland Garros).

The Swiss improved to 38-13 in career finals and 7-0 in career grass finals. The last player to win four ATP titles in a row was Yevgeny Kafelnikov, who won Moscow from 1997-2001 (five times).

Federer will rest this week before beginning his campaign to win a fourth consecutive Wimbledon title.

The 20-year-old Berdych was appearing in his first final in the season (fourth in his career). He sits at a career high INDESIT ATP Ranking No.15 this week after a fourth round appearance at Roland Garros (l. to Federer).

Federer's Road to the Halle Title
R1 - d (Q)R. Bopanna 76(4) 62
R2 - d R Gasquet 76(7) 67(7) 64
QF - d (7)O Rochus 67(2) 76(9) 76(5)
SF - d (6)T Haas 64 67(4) 63
F - d (5)T Berdych 60 67(5) 62

WHAT THE PLAYERS SAID
Federer: "I’m surprised myself that I came so far. I really thought the draw was exceptionally tough for his kind of a tournament. I know how lucky I got in a couple of matches. I really fought my heart off, and it paid off with the tournament victory and equalling Borg’s record. That’s obviously very nice. But just being able to defend this title is great, winning for the fourth consecutive time is something I’ve never done. So, it’s a great moment in my career."

On dropping serve in the second set when he served for the match: "I missed a few shots. The first backhand volley I missed was important. To lose a game where you serve two aces, don’t make any double faults, it’s kind of tough to lose that game. That should be enough on grass. I was very disappointed to be broken at that stage. It’s not the first time that happened this week. You have to be careful not to get too down. Losing the tiebreak really hurts and you think ‘am I going to lose the match too?’ And he’s jumping around on the other side of the net and before he was walking with his head down. So, it was a pity. But as disappointed as I was, I got up and said ‘let’s show that this 6-0 in the first was because I played excellent tennis."

Berdych: "I made my best result on grass. Maybe I start to like the grass court and the grass tournaments. Anyway, I made five matches and it's very good preparation for the next weeks in Wimbledon."

Can anyone beat Federer at Wimbledon?: "I don't think so, unless something really happens, he's sick or injured. No." (ATP)