Federer equals Borg's grass record with fourth Halle title

By Fritz Fischer Jun 18, 2006, 13:20 GMT

Swiss World number one Roger Federer hits a return to Czech Tomas Berdych during their final match at the ATP tennis tournament in Halle, Sunday 18 June 2006. EPA/OLIVER KRATO

Halle, Germany - World number 1 Roger Federer equalled Bjorn Borg's record of 41 consecutive grass court victories on Sunday when he beat Tomas Berdych, 6-0, 6-7 (4-7), 6-2, for his fourth straight title at the 700,000-euro (900,000-dollar) Gerry Weber Open.

Federer won the first seven games, failed to serve out the match at 5-3 in the second but eventually won in 1 hour 35 minutes against Berdych, who famously beat the Swiss at the Athens Olympics in 2004.

It was the fifth title of the year and 38th overall for Federer. Halle is the first tournament that he has won four times.

The Swiss star last lost on grass in the first round of Wimbledon 2002 against Croatian Mario Ancic. His winning streak started in Halle 2003 as he went on to win this tournament four times and Wimbledon three times 2003-2005.

The Swedish legend Bjorg achieved his 41 wins at Wimbledon alone 1976-1981, winning five titles before being beaten by John McEnroe in the 1981 final.

Federer can move ahead of Bjorg with a first-round win at the next Wimbledon edition which starts a week from week, June 26, with Sunday's win likely to further boost his morale.

'It is an amazing series. But winning the titles in Halle and Wimbledon is more important, the series then comes as a bonus,' said Federer.

'It was a very tough week with these three-setters. It is the first time I have won a tournament four years in a row. I am very satisfied to win here ahead of Wimbledon. It seems to bring me luck,' he said.

Berdych said: 'I played so bad in the first set. Afterwards it changed. The second was good but the third not perfect. But I have had a great week, I made the final and lost to Roger. Now I hope to be in good form for Wimbledon.'

Coming off a painful defeat against Rafael Nadal in the French Open final last Sunday, the Swiss star Federer flirted with disaster early on in Halle, having to play three three-setters and to save four match points in the quarter-final with Belgian Olivier Rochus.

The 24-year-old finally appeared to be in full command on Sunday against Berdych, leading 4-0 after just 10 minutes on the sun- drenched centre-court and winning the set two games and six minutes later when Berdych netted a backhand volley.

Berdych, who was playing in his first final of the year and first on grass overall, did not have a game point in the set.

He finally got on the scoreboard in the second game of the second set for 1-1, holding serve at love with the help of two aces.

Federer seemed on course for victory when he broke for 5-3 to serve out the match in the next game, but Berdych rebounded to force a tiebreaker where he left Federer no chance - the Swiss opening the deciding game with a double fault and Berdych taking the set with his seventh ace.

But Berdych's hopes of another upset ended when Federer broke for 2-1 and then again for 5-2 in the final set. This time around Federer made no mistake, serving out the match in the eighth game with a forehand winner on first match point.

'I played really well in the first set,' said Federer, who will now get a badly-needed pre-Wimbledon rest.