Federer crushes Zverev for ninth Halle crown

How things have changed 12 months on.

Last year in Halle, young Alexander Zverev was the toast of Germany after beating grasscourt great Roger Federer in the semifinals. Just two weeks later, Federer pulled the pin on 2016 after going down in the Wimbledon semifinals.

Yet in 2017, Federer is back healthier, sharper and in more devastating form.

Roger Federer beats Alexander Zverev 6-1 6-3 in just 53 minutes to win the title in Halle. Federer will be seeded No 3 at Wimbledon.

— Stuart Fraser (@stu_fraser) June 25, 2017

And he won his fourth title of the season after allowing Zverev just four games in a much-hyped Halle rematch.

Federer’s 6-1 6-3 win in just 53 minutes was light years away from his three-set loss to the same player a year ago – and simply everything on Sunday was clicking.

He breezed through service games, dropping just nine points on serve for the entire match. He fired his forehand for winners at will. And he was sensational around the net – on the last two points of the match, he produced equally impressive backhand volley winners to claim his ninth Halle title.

“I played unbelievably well. I felt good and never let up,” Federer said. “It was my best game this week. Nearly everything worked out for me.”

Joked Zverev to Federer: “You could have been a bit nicer and allowed me a couple more points.”

Those short slices and drops shots are absolutely killing Zverev today. Federer has done his homework preparing for this match.

— René Denfeld (@Renestance) June 25, 2017

Having lost last week at the first hurdle in Stuttgart, the week in Halle was a reassuring one for Federer, who will now head to Wimbledon with match wins and confidence under his belt.

And it may well unsettle the rest of the field, who would no doubt have been watching this much-hyped battle between a legend and a rising star and seen just how comprehensively the Swiss outplayed a top-10 talent widely touted as a future No.1.