Tennis: Roger Federer fails at the tournament in Halle earlier than ever

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Federer said goodbye to the audience in Halle

Photo: SASCHA STEINBACH / EPA

Roger Federer has already failed in the round of 16 at the tennis lawn tournament in Halle / Westphalia.

The 39-year-old Swiss lost to Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime 6: 4, 3: 6, 2: 6.

For Federer it is the earliest end of the 18th participation in the 500 tournament, i.e. the second highest ATP category.

So far, Federer has won the tournament a total of ten times, for the first time in 2003 and most recently at the last event in 2019 due to corona.

In 2012, the access road to the tennis stadium in Halle was even renamed to “Roger-Federer-Allee”.

This year, however, Federer repeatedly made slight mistakes with the forehand, as in his opening game against Ilja Iwaschka (Belarus) on Monday.

The 20-year-old Auger-Aliassime won the contested second set, in the third round he managed two quick breaks to make it 3-0.

Federer couldn't find his way back into the match and gave up after the first match point after 1:45 hours.

The age difference has never been greater

Federer has never lost in his career to a player whose age difference was greater.

Auger-Aliassime celebrates Federer's birthday on the same day, with 19 years between the two.

"I always thought he'd quit before I really got on the tour," Auger-Aliassime said.

Federer last left the tournament at the French Open after reaching the last sixteen against the German Dominik Koepfer.

The 20-time Grand Slam winner justified this with the physical strain after two knee operations last year and a long break.

Federer had already announced that he would concentrate on the lawn season, his favorite surface.

Federer has won Wimbledon eight times so far, and the focus is on that again this year.

The tournament in Halle is considered the prelude to the lawn season and an important preparatory competition for the Grand Slam tournament, which will take place from June 28th to July 11th.

hba / sid