{"id":20500,"date":"2013-06-18T22:29:41","date_gmt":"2013-06-18T20:29:41","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/roger-federer-wins-first-title-of-2013\/"},"modified":"2013-06-18T22:29:41","modified_gmt":"2013-06-18T20:29:41","slug":"roger-federer-wins-first-title-of-2013","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/roger-federer-wins-first-title-of-2013\/","title":{"rendered":"Roger Federer wins first title of 2013"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t \"Roger<\/a><\/p>\n

Roger Federer<\/a> overcame a sluggish start to beat unseeded Mikhail Youzhny<\/a> 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 for his first title since August. Photo: AP Photo\/Martin Meissner<\/p>\n

Roger Federer found the ideal place to end his title drought \u2013 a small town in western Germany that has a big tennis stadium and a street named Roger-Federer-Allee leading to it.<\/p>\n

Federer left Halle a winner again Sunday, ending a 10-month run of 11 tournaments without a title, an eternity by his standards.<\/p>\n

The 31-year-old Swiss great overcame a sluggish start to beat unseeded Mikhail Youzhny 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-4 at the Gerry Weber Open for his first title since Cincinnati in August.<\/p>\n

Returning to grass in his favorite warm-up for Wimbledon, the top-seeded Federer looked lethargic until the middle of the second set against a player he had never lost to in 14 previous matches. It was the first final on the tour this year involving players 30 or older.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve won a lot but not so much in the last 10 months, although I feel I\u2019d been playing well,\u201d Federer said. \u201cBut the others were playing better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Federer earned his sixth title at Halle in 11 appearances (eight finals) and his first since 2008. Four of Federer\u2019s seven Wimbledon trophies have come after victories in Halle \u2013 including his first Halle and Wimbledon championships<\/a> in 2003.<\/p>\n

The former top-ranked player, who is now No. 3, won his 77th career title, pulling him even with John McEnroe<\/a> at third on the all-time list. Jimmy Connors won 109 and Ivan Lendl 94. Federer will be looking to extend his record of 17 Grand Slam championships when he defends his title at Wimbledon.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel fit; I feel confident. I\u2019m excited about what\u2019s to come,\u201d Federer said. \u201cI\u2019m very pleased with how I played this week.\u201d \u2013 ESPN<\/a><\/p>\n

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