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Monday 26 June 2017

Federer beats Alexander Zverev

6-1, 6-3 for 9th Halle title

HALLE, Germany (AP) —
Roger Federer defeated
Germany’s Alexander
Zverev 6-1, 6-3 to win the
Gerry Weber Open for a
record ninth time on Sun-
day.
Playing in his 140th career
final, Federer saved the
only break point he faced
and converted four of Czech Republic’s Petra Kvitova celebrates winning a point
his eight opportunities to against Australia’s Ashleigh Barty during the final match at the
clinch his 92nd career title Birmingham Classic tennis tournament at Edgbaston Priory, Bir-
in 53 minutes. At 35, the mingham, England, Sunday June 25, 2017.
Swiss player became the Associated Press
oldest winner of the grass-
court tournament. Kvitova wins Aegon
“I played unbelievably
well. I felt good and never Classic final for 1st
let up,” said Federer, who Switzerland’s Roger Federer celebrates his victory after the final
match against Germany’s Alexander Zverev at the Gerry Weber
dropped just nine points on Open tennis tournament in Halle, Germany, Sunday, June 25,
his serve. “It was my best 2017. title since attack
game this week. Nearly Associated Press
everything worked out for
me.” the Australian Open before Zverev, who lost last year’s BIRMINGHAM, England (AP) — Two-time Wimbledon
Federer, who skipped the titles in Indian Wells and Mi- final to Florian Mayer, Fe- champion Petra Kvitova beat unseeded Ashleigh Barty
clay-court season after ami in 2017. derer raced to a 4-0 lead 4-6, 6-3, 6-2 Sunday in the Aegon Classic final to win her
winning the Miami Open The 18-time Grand Slam before wrapping up the first title since her playing hand was injured in a knife at-
in early April, claimed his champion was surprised by first set in 22 minutes. Zverev tack at her home.
fourth title of the year, German veteran Tommy created his only break Kvitova was playing only her second tournament and
matching Rafael Nadal’s Haas on his return from the chance in the opening seventh match since she was attacked in December.
tally, and he will be seed- two-month break last week game of the second, but “It’s hard to say anything but I think I’ve been through a
ed ahead of his Spanish in Stuttgart but brushed off ultimately was unable to very difficult time in my life, and it wasn’t about the tennis,
rival for Wimbledon, which any doubts over his form in show why he is regarded as but about coming back healthy and alive and moving
starts in eight days. Halle. one of the sport’s brightest my fingers properly and everything like that,” Kvitova said.
Federer had already won Against the 20-year-old prospects.q “This is something clearly special. It’s some bonus to have
in my life and my career and everything.”
Lopez saves match point, beats Cilic in Queen’s final It was the Czech leftie’s first grass-court final since her tri-
umph at 2014 Wimbledon and her 20th career title in her
By SAM JOHNSTON, Lopez saved a match point match point (in 2014) away 27th final.
Associated Press when trailing 6-5 with a from my mind. I was serving Barty won her first career title in March in Kuala Lumpur,
LONDON (AP) — Feliciano stretching forehand volley, for the match again, it was and became the first Australian finalist here in 25 years.
Lopez saved a match point before sealing victory at so difficult to handle my While her serving was inconsistent — 13 aces and seven
as he came from behind to the third opportunity. nerves.” double faults against Barty — Kvitova’s ground strokes
beat Marin Cilic of Croatia A beaten finalist in 2014 Seventh-ranked Cilic, the looked as penetrating and as hard-to-read as ever. The
and claim the biggest title when he failed to capi- 2012 champion, played Czech even saw the silver lining in losing the opener.
of his career at Queen’s on talize on a match point a near-perfect opening “It was nice to lose the first set, and that I had to fight
Sunday in the Wimbledon against Grigor Dimitrov, Lo- set. He saved Lopez’s only for the second and for the third,” Kvitova said. “I think (it)
warm-up event. pez once more displayed break point with an ace will give me some extra confidence that I am still able to
The 35-year-old Spaniard his grass-court skills ahead before striking with his first fight.”
failed to break the serve of Wimbledon. opportunity to take the Barty won her first 11 points on serve, and conceded only
of fourth-seeded Cilic “I cannot believe that I’ve lead. Lopez’s serve often one point in her first four service games. She broke Kvi-
throughout the grass-court finally won this trophy,” Lo- came to the rescue with tova’s serve at the second attempt, took the first set and
final but fought back to pez said. “It’s the best week 10 aces during the second put Kvitova under pressure in the opening game of the
win 4-6, 7-6 (2), 7-6 (8) in a of my career — to win this set, the most important of second.
match lasting around 2 ½ tournament at this stage of which saved one of Cilic’s Kvitova clung on and the match changed course. She
hours. my career, it’s so amazing. two break points in the sec- came up with two fine returns to break serve, began to
In the deciding tiebreaker, “It’s tough to put that ond game.q play more freely and held for 3-0 and 4-1.q