Federer beats Falla for 7th Gerry Weber Open title

HALLE, Germany: Roger Federer won the Gerry Weber Open for the seventh time by defeating Alejandro Falla 7-6 (2), 7-6 (3) in the final on Sunday.
Federer fired five aces and saved three of the five break points he faced to win in 1 hour, 28 minutes. It was the 14th title on grass and 79th overall for the 32-year-old Swiss.
The seven-time Wimbledon champion improved his record to 46-5 in 12 appearances at the tournament where he made his debut 14 years ago.
“I’ve left a little bit of my heart there,” Federer said after his ninth Halle final.
“My big goal for the week was to collect the title, play good tennis and have fun. I’ve done that.”
Federer broke to go 5-3 up in the first set, only for Falla to respond with a break and take it to the tiebreaker.
Federer then started the second set with a break, but a forehand error allowed Falla respond with a break in the next set. Both held serve to set up the second tiebreaker, where Federer’s experience saw him through.
It was Federer’s seventh win from seven meetings with Falla.
“He’s the king of kings of tiebreaks,” Falla said. “Overall I played very well throughout the whole week and I want to keep it up.”


Dimitrov crowned king of Queen’s
In London, Bulgarian fourth seed Grigor Dimitrov warmed up for Wimbledon by winning the Queen’s Club title with a 6-7 (8/10), 7-6 (7/1), 7-6 (8/6) victory over Spain’s Feliciano Lopez in Sunday’s final.
Dimitrov’s maiden success on grass makes him the first player since Roger Federer and David Ferrer in 2012 to win titles on three different surfaces in the same year after his victories on hard courts in Acapulco and clay in Bucharest.
The world number 13, who was cheered on by girlfriend and French Open champion Maria Sharapova, is the first Bulgarian to win Queen’s and the fourth ATP trophy of his promising career.


Ivanovic wins first grass-court title at Edgbaston
Meantime, Ana Ivanovic warmed up for Wimbledon by capturing her first grasscourt title with a 6-3, 6-2 victory over the Czech Republic’s Barbora Zahlavova Strycova in the Aegon Classic on Sunday.
The former world No. 1. dropped her serve in the opening game but from then on dominated the contest to win her third title of the season and 14th overall.
“I couldn’t ask for better preparation (for Wimbledon) than to win my first title on grass,” the Serbian said after following in the footsteps of players such as Billie Jean King and Martina Navratilova by winning the tournament in Edgbaston.
“It definitely feels very special, not just to win my first title on grass, but to put my name next to champions like that.
“Hopefully they can help me with my smashes!” she added, referring to a few missed overheads in the final.