Record-winner Roger Federer (ATP 5) attemts to win his ninth title at the GERRY WEBER OPEN against the Taiwanese Yen-Hsen Lu (ATP 68). That's the outcome of todays draw of the main field. The ATP-Tournament is celebrating its 25th anniversery this year - with the strongest field of competitors in its history: "An outstanding line-up. With Roger Federer, all German stars and rising stars of the next generation. The draw has produced some fine blockbusters, but thankfully not an all-German duel at the beginning“, tournament director Ralf Weber said. No. 2 seed Austrian Dominic Thiem (ATP 8) meets a qualifier, Japanese Superman Kei Nishikori (ATP 9), No. 3 of the tournament, will play the Spaniard Fernando Verdasco (ATP 32).
Federer, eight-times Champion in Halle, was to meet Yen Hsun-Lu in HalleWestfalen three years ago, but Lu couldn't play in the Quarter finals due to an injury. Comparing, Federer leads 3:0, he also beat him in Wimbledon. "He's a player who likes quick surfaces. I do hope to get to a better start into this tournament than in Stuttgart“, Federer said after arriving at the GERRY WEBER SPORTPARK HOTEL in Halle / East-Westphalia.
Germany's No. 1, the 20-year-old Alexander Zverev (ATP 10) from Hamburg, will meet the Italian Paolo Lorenzi (ATP 36) in his opening match. The younger of the Zverev-brothers could meet his compatriot Philipp Kohlschreiber in the second round. But Kohlschreiber (ATP 52) has to overcome Portuguese Joao Sousa (ATP 60) first. Title-holder Florian Mayer (ATP 51), who took part in the draw, will meet the French player Benoit Paire (ATP 49). "It could have been better, but it could have been worse, too", Mayer said about the draw. Talking about his coup last year, Mayer said: "That was the best day of my life. It nearly seemed surreal, this victory", the man from Bayreuth said. "Especially of course to win in Germany, in front of my own fans.“
Local-patriot Jan-Lennard Struff (ATP 53) continues in HalleWestfalen where he stopped in Stuttgart - with the duell against Frenchman Lucas Pouille (ATP 16). At the ATP-Competion in Stuttgart Struff even had given away a matchball and sofore had missed the chance to get into the Quarterfinals. Everybodys darling Dustin Brown (WC/ATP 76), as well as Mischa Zverev (ATP 31) will be meeting a qualifier, whereas Oldie Tommy Haas (ATP 302) will play the Australian Bernard Tomic (ATP 48) in his opening match. Haas had last created quite a sensation by beating Federer in Stuttgart.
One of the most-promising first-round matches should be be between the two Tennis-Musketeers Gael Monfils (ATP 15) and Richard Gasquet (ATP 29) in the French duel. Gasquet had surprised two years ago by reaching the Semis in Wimbledon.
