Halle Draw 2018: Federer Looking for 10th Title in Westphalia
Roger Federer’s still very much in Stuttgart but he’ll soon be taking a short trip North to Halle and the draw has just taken place for the Gerry Weber Open. You can see his projected opponents below.
Roger Federer’s Projected Opponents
- Round 1: Alijaz Bedene
- Round 2: Benoit Paire / Steve Johnson
- Quarter Finals: Philipp Kohlschreiber
- Semi Finals: Dominic Thiem / Lucas Pouille
- Finals: Sascha Zverev / Kei Nishikori
Thoughts on the Draw
First up is Alijaz Bedene whom Roger played at this years Australian Open. The former Brit played at the Rosmalen Grass Court Championships rather than Stuttgart and lost in the first round to Copil. He’s had an average year so far but he has a fairly well-rounded game and is the sort of guy that will always make you work for a win. Fed in straights for me in this one though.
Into Round 2 and it’s either Steve Johnson or Benoit Paire. Paire lost in Stuttgart to Berdych and Johnson is yet to play since losing to Cilic at the French Open so I can’t see either of them troubling Roger. Paire has moments of brilliance but over three sets his level is all over the shop. Johnson has a good serve + forehand but no real backhand. Perhaps less exposed on grass but he’s not had a great season.
The Quarter Final section is wide open with former Halle finalist Philipp Kohlschreiber a likely opponent. The in-form Fuscovics is also in there but maybe Matthew Ebden can continue his mini grass court run having won 9 matches on the stuff already this year (5 in Surbiton before losing to De Minaur in the semis and 4 so far in Den Bosch where again he’s in the semi-final). I’d like to think Kohli is favourite but I picked him to do well in Stuttgart and he lost first round so take it with a pinch of salt 🙂
Semis then sees Thiem as the seeded opponent who’ll be playing his first tournament since getting the Nadal clay treatment in the Roland Garros final. I don’t really rate his grass game as you need to be able to block returns and take short swings on the surface, neither which he can he do. He has won a title in Stuttgart though so you can’t write him off if he’s over the French Open loss. Pouille who Federer could still play in Stuttgart if they both make the final is the other name that stands out on paper.
As for the final, Sascha Zverev is in that half and if he’s over the leg injury sustained in Paris is the favourite to come through that section. Nishikori, Gasquet, Bautista Agut and Coric are also in that section so it’s certainly not a cakewalk for him.
Predictions for Fed? I think he will be playing next weekend but I’d like to wait and see how Stuttgart pans out before having an opinion on it. If he loses today, is he still favourite for Halle? Probably.
What do you guys think? Let me know your thoughts in the comments.
Go roger
I sooo want to see 10 titles next to Roger’s name in Halle!!! He is a grass court legend already but somehow it seems weird he has not done it yet. Obviously we all want him to win every tournament he plays ?.
Besides the titles count it’s just sooo nice to have him back and playing again. The tour is not remotely the same without Roger, i have used my TennisTV account more in the past few days than the entire clay court season hahaha.
First?!
2nd
4th?
Tough tie-breaks vs Kyrgios…
Go Roger.
World No 1!
So happy ! Well deservéd !
Roger number one again (Not a surprise to anyone here). Roger had a challenging game with Nick and his 23 Aces but Roger in the end looks like his grass game is great right now. Definitely Halle will be more challenging but if he maintains this level anything goes. Roger is going for 98 victories. I am sure he will make it to 100 this year. Then only he and Jimmy Connors will have reached the century mark.
I think Fed should skip Halle.
I don’t want him weary or injured for Wimby.
He played Brisbane – essentially an expo – and won AO this year. Just one more more tournament after that – Rotterdam- and he was flat at IW and lost the final.
In ’17 he won AO w just Brisbane and had before 6 months off before that. He left the AO w a trophy and a groin injury and lost Dubai before the Sunshine Slam.
Fed needs grampa rest.
I tournament more at Rotterdam and he was
I think that you might be worrying unduly.He seems to be very fresh,fit and I don’t see anyone beating him
over 5 sets at wimbledon.Lets be optimistic about Fed,as fans we do seem to lack faith in the greatest
champion of all.Also I felt that todays match was better played and more entertaining than the whole clay
court season combined?
can’t argue w that last sentence!
Just seems like his rythm since his return is he has about 2 good tournaments in quick succession and then he runs into some problem.
Last year:
Perth & AO, then groin and crash at Dubia.
Sunshine Double and then a long rest
Halle and Wimby and then hurt at Montreal. Bad USO then heals.
Shanghia and Basel and then crashes out tired at WTF
This year:
AO and Rott and then depleted at IW and crashed Miami
Just seems like 2 tournaments and then trouble.
Last 2 years Hopman Cup, not Brisbane…
Oops! You’re right. Perth. My bad.
Clutch play from Fed in the third set tiebreak.A well earned win against a mercurial opponent.Now he will beat Raonic in
two sets I think.
actually the Halle draw seems somewhat easier than Stuttgart.Cant see anyone really troubling him until the final.
Easier draw in Halle, agreed.
Thought you might leave this post till Stuttgart was done, Jonathan 😉 .
Agree that it almost looks easier than Stuttgart on paper – which can be dangerous. As someone else said, I think much depends on how much Stuttgart has taken out of him. We want him in tip-top shape for SW19. He always loves Halle though, & I think that helps him play freely. Stuttgart first though, then we’ll turn our attention to the Roger Federer Allée!
Looks like an easier draw than Stuttgart. Roger should be able to continue playing better and win this. Gasquet and Kholi should do well in Halle.
Decent draw to reach at least semis. Hope he can keep up his stride and peak for Wimby for his 21st GS.
Roger has ten weeks preparation and rest and only Stuttgart on his legs at Halle unlike IW where he had Hopman, AO, Rotterdam and all the hoopla that goes with these big events, he should be fine & buoyed by the number 1 return irrespective of the outcome today.
Not sure Gasquet will be quite as feisty he’s in a final today too but had a semi demoralisation at RG, and some hard matches like at Monte Carlo, Kohli does seem to do ok at Halle too…good luck today Fed give Rao the run around and gain this title so momentum is there for Halle number 10!
Looking at the draw Sascha has a tough one,Coric in the first round,then Kachanov and Nishikori in his half.Still,mustn’t grumble,his time will come,glad Fed has the easier half but I bet that match with Kohli will be a tight
three setter.