Roger Federer's level worries less than two weeks before Wimbledon.
This Wednesday, the Swiss, who made his return to grass in Halle in Germany, a surface he had not trod since the final of Wimbledon 2019, disappeared in the second round, beaten by the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime, 20 years old and 21st in the world, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.
Title-holder in Halle, the former world No. 1 now 8th in the ATP ranking, won the first round with a very good level of play. But the Swiss once gave up his service in the second to allow Auger -Aliassime to equalize to a set everywhere, before collapsing in the third.
“It was tough in the first set, he was playing so well.
I was playing almost perfectly, as well as I can and I lost 6-4… ”, reacted the Canadian after his victory.
Auger-Aliassime surprises!
He defeats Roger Federer with 4-6 6-3 6-2.
Great match from the Canadian.
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- NOVENTI OPEN (@ATPHalle) June 16, 2021
Twelve days before the start of Wimbledon, which begins on June 28, the Swiss could not be reassured.
He who dreams of conquering a ninth crown on the London turf.
He did not shine against the 90th world
After his retirement after three matches at Roland Garros, the winner of 20 Grand Slam tournaments, operated twice on his right knee in 2020, has apparently not yet regained the sensations of before.
Already on Monday, for his entry into the running at Halle, the player who will celebrate his 40th birthday in August, qualified by winning in straight sets but without really shining against Belarussian Ilya Ivashka 7-6 (7/4), 7-5.
The Swiss had encountered some problems against a young opponent from qualifying.
Against the 90th in the world, he needed 1h36 to pass the obstacle and had only managed to break his opponent once.
“There is room to improve, but I'm happy with my first game here on grass.
I feel good, ”Federer said at the time.
