By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, June 21, 2015

 

Roger Federer fired 14 aces, including successive aces to save set points, subduing Andreas Seppi, 7-6 (1), 6-4, to claim his eighth Halle title.

Photo credit: Gerry Weber Open

The father to two sets of twins, Roger Federer knows a little bit about multi-tasking. Today, tennis's most famous dad had his hands full at times, but responded with authoritative serving and paternal patience.

Stinging successive aces to save a pair of set points in the 10th game, Federer elevated his game and extended his Halle reign.

Federer fired 14 aces and did not drop serve defeating Andreas Seppi, 7-6 (1), 6-4, to celebrate Father's Day capturing his record-extending eighth Halle title.

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“It’s the first time I’ve won a tournament eight times — and overall, at one of my favorite tournaments," said Federer, who raised his Halle record to 51-5 winning his fourth title of 2015. "It was a really good match. My serve saved me a couple of times in the first set. To win here is always special.”

The second-ranked Swiss won his 86th ATP championship, including his 15th career grass-court crown — the most by any man in the Open Era. Federer joined Hall of Famer Guillermo Vilas and nine-time Roland Garros champion Rafael Nadal as just the third man in the Open Era to win eight titles at a single tournament.

This Father's Day final was a veteran's day clash of sometime practice partners: The 33-year-old Federer and the 31-year-old Seppi took the court for the second-oldest ATP final of the season — 34-year-old Victor Estrella Burgos became the oldest ATP first-time champion earlier this season defeating 33-year-old Feliciano Lopez in the Quito final.

Contesting his 10th consecutive Halle final, Federer was churning out solid service games at the start until Seppi started to find his rhythm. Spitting showers prompted a 12-minute delay to close the retractable roof during the seventh game. When play resumed, Seppi held for 4-3.

The 45th-ranked Italian hit a low return to thwart a serve-and-volley attempt and earn the first break point in the eighth game. Federer denied it with a series of deep drives, cracking an ace followed by a forehand swing volley on the line to hold for 4-4.

Empowered by his upset of the Swiss in the Australian Open third round in January — his only win over Federer in 12 career meetings — Seppi played more proactive tennis for stretches of the opener.

"Seppi, I played him many times. For some time, we also practiced quite often," said Federer, who is 15-5 in grass-court finals. "I think he hits the ball very well on both sides, especially cross court and then he can go down the line. I think that’s what makes him a tough player. I think fitness-wise he’s very fit, you know, he won’t go away. He doesn’t have the best second serve but I think he has improved that over time. And because he hits the ball quite flat it actually helps him on the grass."

Two games later, Seppi slid a backhand down the line for double-set point. Unfazed, Federer flashed two aces in a row down the middle erasing both set points then bolted a service winner navigating a hard-fought hold for 5-5.

Facing a 0-30 hole serving at 5-6, Federer rallied with a series of darting defensive stabs to extend the point then redirected a Seppi smash. That sequence helped him hold to force the tie break.

Seppi earned three break points and did not face a single break point in the first set, but still had nothing to show for it.

The tie break was all Federer. Slamming his seventh ace down the T followed by a backhand return winner down the line, Federer soared to a 4-0 lead. A flat forehand winner down the line gave Federer five set points. He needed only one as Seppi spit his first double fault of the day into the net to end a solid set on a timid note.

It was Federer's fourth straight tie break set; he won all six tie breaks he played in the tournament.

Loosening up a bit, Federer opened the second set slashing eight straight first serves throwing down two straight love holds.

Slinging some heavy passes, Seppi did not let Federer get comfortable at net in the fifth game. The Swiss made a fine stab volley, but couldn't control the next volley on the stretch as Seppi earned the first break point of the second set.

Attacking net, Federer hit the rare one-handed backhand swing volley and caught a break when the Italian netted his normally trusty two hander down the line. Federer survived the skirmish, eventually holding for 3-2.

Federer won 20 of 22 points played on his first serve in the second set. Seppi saved three break points holding for 4-all, but that was his final stand.


Two games later, Federer fired a backhand down the line sending the Italian scrambling in pursuit. Federer thumped a slice overhead winner down the line on his second match point, thrusting both arms in the air after closing his fourth title of the season in one hour, 48 minutes.

The joyous dad played dynamic tennis to collect his eighth Halle title and now sets his sights on an eighth Wimbledon crown as the grass-court Grand Slam begins in eight days.