What a thriller! Roger Federer has stressed the fans' nerves at the Round of Sixteen at the GERRY WEBER OPEN and made it in the end to the Quarterfinals in a more than dramatical match. At 6:3, 3:6, 7:6 (7) against Benoit Paire Federer was nearly out, had to fender off two match points but in the end the fans could finally catch their breath.
When the Frenchman goes onto a tennis court, it's entertaining. Even when it's Roger Federer, the perhaps best tennis player of all times, on the other side. The artist from Avignon took all the Swiss' rhythm by his diversing speed and his testing backhand slice. Offensive, aggressive and spectacular - Paire met the Maestros' game openly and worked for the first break chance of the match. When he couldn't use the chance, though, his composure was gone. Federer increased the number of shots, Paire lost concentration completely, also his nerves and then his service. Clearly frustrated the Frenchman maltreated ball and grass and so the World's No. 1 won the first round 6:3.
In the five previous matches against Federer the "Enfant Terrible“ hadn't been able to win a set - but this time history was about to change. Paire got to a new start and managed to make the Grass-King's throne wobble a bit with his non-orthodox game. Federer became much too passive and was under pressure after a double break 0:4. The Swiss tried to put his foot down a little too late. The man from Basel did get his break back, but this time Paire held his level and got the set to even (6:3). It was Federers' first set loss in Halle since losing to Alexander Zverev in the Semis two years ago.
The suspense of the 11.500 spectators at the GERRY WEBER STADION was gripping in the deciding set. Up to today, there had never been such a thing as Federer losing a Round of Sixteen match at the GERRY WEBER OPEN. Paire tested Federer hard and the Swiss was not very happy with his game. Ivan Ljubici's protégé was lacking easiness on the grass in Halle and so the 36 year old left three break chances, two of them match points, without using them. In the all-deciding tie break Federer was leading 3:1, but Paire scored four points in a row and was very close to knocking the king from his throne and from the top of the World's ranking. With luck and skill the Swiss was able to turn the match around again and used his third match point, the tennis fans in Halle cheering him on loudly. In the end 59 direct points were not enough for Benoit Paire to win.
"Benoit played superbly. That has to be said without grudge. 10 cm more and I would have been out. Now I have a chance for the semis. I am just happy to have won", Federer said straight after his close match.
