Roger Federer’s presence at next week’s Noventi Open in Halle is one tournament organisers are both celebrating and relishing.
The 20-time grand slam champion is set to play in the tournament for the 17th time in his career. Federer, who has won the title a record nine times, last missed the tournament back in 2011 due to a groin injury. In 2010 he signed a contract to play in Halle each year for the rest of his career. Two years after signing the contract, he had a street named in his honour in the region.
There is no doubt the Swiss Maestro is a star attraction for the tournament, which is run by director Ralf Weber. Although at the age of 37, Weber knows that Federer’s presence will only continue for a few years at best.
“There will be no successor who can replace him one on one,” he told newspaper Westfalen Blatt.
“You do not have to fool yourself. What Roger Federer has done and still achieves is above all else.
“Everyone will have a hard time saying ‘I’m stepping into those footsteps now’.
Preparing for life without the world No.3, Weber is hoping to prevent any potential decline in interest with the help of the rising stars of the game and local talent. Germany currently has four players ranked in the top 100 on the ATP Tour, however, Alexander Zverev in the only one under the age of 25. Florian Mayer was the last home player to win the title back in 2016.
“So, looking at the whole tournament, we have to make sure that we – as this year – have a great mix of world stars, German pros and players of the so-called Next Generation, the stars of tomorrow.” Weber explained.
“Our viewers want to see attractive tennis. We want to offer that to them.”
So far in his career, Federer has achieved an overall win-loss record of 63-7 at the event. Reaching the semi-final stage 14 consecutive times. He has never lost before the quarter-final in Halle since his debut back in 2000.
“It seems almost natural to us that a world star like Roger Federer plays here in Halle every year,” Weber reflected.
“But many 500 tournaments will never get the chance that they will ever be seen there at all.
“That we can present Roger Federer in Halle is something very special.”
Last year 115,000 people visited the tournament in what was an attendance record for Halle. This year’s edition has a total financial commitment of 2.1 million euros. Besides Federer, Dominic Thiem, Zverev and Kei Nishikori are all set to take part.
The Noventi Open will get underway on Monday.
