ATP Halle: The Federers in the green idyll
Roger Federer is fighting for his eleventh title in the race classic in Halle / Westphalia - and can enjoy the tranquility of the small German town together with his family even in times of pandemics.
by Jörg Allmeroth
last edit: Jun 15, 2021, 03:48 pm
When Roger Federer had successfully brought his first round game across the finish line like a hard worker in Halle on Monday afternoon, a memorable final shot was to be seen on Center Court. Federer gave the usual quick interview to the bustling stadium announcer Björn Sassenroth downstairs on Center Court, and upstairs his wife Mirka and the twin girls Myla and Charlene as well as the twin boys Lenny and Leo listened to the most prominent winner of the slightly crazy opening day. Papa talked with the usual charm, the usual nonchalance, and when the conversation was over there was applause from the rest of the Federer house. “They are my biggest fans,” said Federer later, the record champion at the top ATP competition in East Westphalia.
Federer is actually used to contesting the Federer Festival in Halle. He is the record champion, winning ten times the tournament that the Weber family once stomped out of nowhere into the international tennis world. But only a few spectators are allowed in 2021, Federer's acclaimed performances are canceled, the stadium is not a madhouse, but a place of considerable silence. There are also no such unbelievable pictures, as the now 39-year-old Swiss is still writing hundreds of autographs for fans from all over the world long, long after his matches outside the offices of the tournament management. "Here it is particularly painful to accept how tournaments still have to take place at the moment," says Federer, who is usually chauffeured to the front door of the nearby players' hotel by the driver service - on a street called Roger-Federer-Allee.
A trip into the countryside
Against his first-round opponent Ilya Ivashka from Belarus, the Federers - everyone except Roger - were the loudest group of spectators in the almost orphaned OWL-Arena, which in normal times holds almost 13,000 fans. Mirka and the four children celebrated the hard-working dad's points wins, motivating them with applause and shouts of “Bravo” and “Allez”. Federer's wife, who used to be a top international player herself, captured many scenes of this match on her smartphone for the family album, and when she got the victory point after 94 minutes, she jumped up from her seat, cheering. Federer's family has always loved the seclusion in Halle, but the fact that the seclusion has increased a little again this year due to the strict pandemic requirements is only unwelcome at first glance. The fact is: You have your peace of mind for the most part, but you can also get out of the no longer so hermetic bubble for one or two trips. It is literally an excursion into the countryside, into the idyll, into the tranquility. Almost a holiday atmosphere without tennis.
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The Federers enjoy the few days together before they part ways before Wimbledon. The conditions around the season highlight are so tough that only the closest confidants from the Federer team will be there in London - for the family the “whole thing doesn't make any sense,” says the maestro, “because of the recent quarantine. “In Halle, Federer wants to get going, the game against Ivashka was the first on grass since the lost Wimbledon final in 2019 against Novak Djokovic - in the first tiebreak of the fifth set (final result 12:13). “Two years - a little eternity,” says Federer, “I'm so happy to be back on the grass. You automatically go through the world with a different feeling. "
Federer talks to himself
His 76th game in Halle was also the 215th on grass and the 1520th in his career. In all likelihood it was also one of the strangest, memorable for many, alas, wrong reasons. In the forcibly deserted stadium, Federer's self-talk could be heard, as well as his anger over netballs and apologies from opponent Ivashka afterwards. "Just don't say that again, sorry," Federer grumbled over to the Russian. Even Federer's children then asked their mother, a little excitedly, whether something was wrong - it was visible, and for some people it was also audible.
The competition in Halle is stronger than ever in 2021. For everyone who plays. For Federer too. Nevertheless, he wants to give everything to get the big cup back into his hands. On the lawn, especially in Halle, he is a green glutton. "It would be fantastic to win again," he says, "if only the fans could be there too."
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