HALLE, June 15, 2015

Roger Federer opened his grass court season with a victory over Philipp Kohlschreiber at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle on Monday. In a nail-biting encounter, the top-seeded Swiss won 81% of his first service points, winning with a bit of luck and two tie-breaks 7-6, 3-6, 7-6 in two hours and 11 minutes.

“Philipp deserved winning, too. I first thought that I wasn’t in luck today. But of course now I’m really happy that I made it through and I can go for another title. It would have been really bitter to have to fly back home today,” Federer was reliever after the match.

Other German players were more successful in their opening round matches. Dustin Brown beat Andreas Haider-Maurer, winning 7-5, 6-2. “Dreddy” didn’t have to face a single break point to seal victory in 62 minutes.

Wild card Alexander Zverev knocked out Finnish qualifier Jarkko Nieminen in straight sets, winning 6-4, 6-4. The 18-year-old German capitalized on three of his six break points to finish the match after one hour and nine minutes. “I actually got into the match quite well,” said Zverev. “I played quite well, served good. I’m just happy that I won against a player like Jarkko and made it to the next round.”

Another teenager, in person of Borna Coric also advanced to the second round beating Donald Young in a battle of two former Wimbledon junior’s champions 6-4, 3-6, 6-3. The 18-year-old Croat, who suffered a resounding defeat to Viktor Trocki in Stuttgart last week, has returned to the winning track. Coric capitalized on his chances, breaking Young’s service three times to seal victory in two hours and six minutes. The match was also watched by Roger Federer, who was sitting on the balcony of his hotel suite high above the Centre court stadium, but the world number two could face the Croatian young gun not until the semi-finals.