Roger Federer Crashes Out In 2nd Round At Halle As Wimbledon Looms

HALLE, GERMANY – JUNE 22: Roger Federer of Switzerland serves in his half final match against … [+] Pierre-Hugues Herbert of France during day 6 of the Noventi Open at Gerry Weber Stadium on June 22, 2019 in Halle, Germany. (Photo by Thomas F. Starke/Getty Images)

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Roger Federer won’t be going into Wimbledon with any momentum.

After withdrawing from the French Open ahead of his fourth-round match with Matteo Berrettini in order to focus on the grass court season, Federer was bounced in his second match at Halle by Canada’s Felix Auger Aliassime 4-6, 6-3, 6-2.

Auger Aliassime, ranked No. 21, earned the win in his first match against the 20-time Grand Slam champion and world No. 8. It was also Federer’s first match against a player born in the 2000s. The two men share the same birthday on Aug. 8, with Federer exactly 19 years older.

“Oh, it’s an amazing win,” the Canadian said in his on-court interview. “I for sure didn’t expect this. I come in the match wanting to win, but Roger was my idol like many of us growing up. So first of all it was a huge honor to play him before he retired and to beat him is something amazing that I have with me. Now I’m going to cherish that, it’s a great moment for me.

Asked if he ever visualized beating Federer, he said: “No, because I always thought he would be gone when I arrived because he was always winning Grand Slams when I was only like 5 years old. So I never expected to play him and i just wanted to be a professional one day and didn’t think I would get to his level. Now to be on the same court and get the win, it’s an honor for me.”

It remains unclear if Federer, 39, will attempt to play another event next week ahead of the start of Wimbledon on June 28, where he has won eight titles and is hopeful of making at least one more run.

Federer’s 20 Slams are tied with rival Rafael Nadal, while Novak Djokovic is now breathing down their necks after winning his 19th major on Sunday at the French Open.

After Federer reached the fourth round in Paris, Patrick McEnroe called him the second or third favorite behind Djokovic at Wimbledon.

“He’s a legit threat again to win Wimbledon,” McEnroe said. “Djokovic will be the favorite, Federer second or third.”

Still, Federer has only played eight matches in 2021, going 5-3. He did not play after the Australian Open in 2020 while undergoing two knee procedures.

“If he was in his prime, I don’t know when he was No. 1 in the world, it must’ve been scary so I thought he was really good,” Auger Aliassime said, “but I still believed in my chances…and it went my way so it was really great.”