Post by Teresa on Apr 30, 2005 5:05:23 GMT 3
29 April 2005
By Ossian Shine
LONDON (Reuters) - Wimbledon champion Roger Federer will take his tried and tested route to the grasscourt grand slam this year by playing the warm-up event in Halle, Germany.
Federer will be the number one seed for the 659,000 euros ($851,700) June 6-12 Gerry Weber Open, organizers said on Friday.
The Swiss will be joined by Australian Open champion Marat Safin, former Wimbledon runner-up David Nalbandian and French Open favorite Rafael Nadal on the Westfalian lawns.
While world numbers one and four Federer and Safin hone their grasscourt skills in Germany, number two Lleyton Hewitt and third-ranked Andy Roddick will prepare for Wimbledon at London's Queen's Club in the 659,000 euros Stella Artois Championships.
Federer, Halle champion in 2003 and 2004, has not lost a match on grass since Wimbledon 2002.
Other confirmed entries for Halle include Spain's Feliciano Lopez, Fernando Verdasco and Albert Costa, wily Frenchman Fabrice Santoro, powerful Swede Joachim Johansson and home favorites Tommy Haas and Nicolas Kiefer.
By Ossian Shine
LONDON (Reuters) - Wimbledon champion Roger Federer will take his tried and tested route to the grasscourt grand slam this year by playing the warm-up event in Halle, Germany.
Federer will be the number one seed for the 659,000 euros ($851,700) June 6-12 Gerry Weber Open, organizers said on Friday.
The Swiss will be joined by Australian Open champion Marat Safin, former Wimbledon runner-up David Nalbandian and French Open favorite Rafael Nadal on the Westfalian lawns.
While world numbers one and four Federer and Safin hone their grasscourt skills in Germany, number two Lleyton Hewitt and third-ranked Andy Roddick will prepare for Wimbledon at London's Queen's Club in the 659,000 euros Stella Artois Championships.
Federer, Halle champion in 2003 and 2004, has not lost a match on grass since Wimbledon 2002.
Other confirmed entries for Halle include Spain's Feliciano Lopez, Fernando Verdasco and Albert Costa, wily Frenchman Fabrice Santoro, powerful Swede Joachim Johansson and home favorites Tommy Haas and Nicolas Kiefer.
