Federer rallies to clinch sixth Halle title

Unfortunately for Federer, the Russian packed too much power on his backhand forcing the Swiss to yield the point with a backhand into the net. On his second set point, Youzhny was far more assured, finishing the set in style with a crisply struck backhand volley.

Youzhny had taken the first set off Federer when the two met in Halle ten years ago, but the Swiss fought back to prevail in three sets 4-6, 7-6(4), 6-2 to reach the finals. The Gerry Weber stadium was filled with an air of anticipation, wondering if Federer can script yet another comeback.

Youzhny had never won against Federer in 14 previous matches, but at 1-1 in the second set it was the Swiss who was looking like the one being hunted. Needing to get himself back into the contest, Federer held to love for a second time in the set to take a 3-2 lead on serve.

Youzhny was playing an erratic service game in the sixth and Federer earned his sixth opportunity of the match to break the Russian. As he had throughout the match, the Russian resorted to raw aggression to run Federer ragged along the baseline before saving it with a smash winner. Federer’s worries increased, when he allowed the game to slip away with a couple of forehand errors.

Federer pulled off a spectacular smash from the baseline to hold serve with ease and keep his nose ahead at 4-3. He made a big move in the next game, drawing Youzhny to the forehand side before finishing the point with an inside out forehand to gain a foothold at 0-30.

Youzhny sailed a backhand long on the next point to offer three break points to the beleaguered Swiss. Federer hadn’t converted any of his six earlier break opportunities, but Youzhny made it simple for the Swiss by throwing in a double fault.

Serving to force the decider at 5-3 Federer earned two set points, gaining an error from the Russian with a powerfully struck inside out forehand. Youzhny saved the first, but he sent a backhand into the net on the next point to concede the set. The last time the Halle final went the distance was in 2010, when Lleyton Hewitt fought back from a set down to defeat Federer.

After a lacklustre first set in which Federer made 12 unforced errors, he tightened the game in the second to halt the decline and work his way back into the match. Federer made just four errors in the second set and won 32 of 50 points to dominate the Russian.

There was scent of opportunity in the third game of the final set when Youzhny failed to pick up a half volley to trail 15-30. A backhand error from the Swiss and a 205kmph serve bailed out the Russian as he went on to hold serve.

Federer might well have been trailing, but his service games were proving to be a breeze as the match progressed. A hold to love for the sixth time in the match and a second time in the final set helped the Swiss stay even at 3-3.

A window of opportunity opened for Federer when Youzhny made an error to fall to 0-30. Another lose point from the Russian helped the Swiss gain three break points. The smell of imminent danger helped Youzhny play a good point to save the first, but Federer threaded the needle with a brilliant backhand pass to take the vital break.

A scorching inside out forehand took Federer to within two points of a sixth title and Youzhny helped him to three match points when he dragged a forehand wide on the next point. Another error from Youzhny was enough to hand Federer his first title since August 2012, with his wife and daughters watching from the stands.

Four of Federer’s seven titles at Wimbledon came after winning at Halle, the question on many minds now will be whether Federer can successfully defend his title when the 127^th edition of the greatest tennis tournament gets underway a week from now.

The loss earned €65,000 in prize money and 150 ranking points. Federer took home an imposing Gerry Weber Open trophy for the sixth time, 250 ranking points and the little sum of €123,400 to cushion his nearly $78mn earnings. The victory also helped Federer emulate John McEnroe with 77 career titles on the ATP World Tour.