37-Year-Old Veterans Roger Federer and Feliciano Lopez reach Halle and Queen’s Club Finals, Respectively
(June 22, 2019) Roger Federer in into his 13th Halle final on Sunday, while his fellow 37-year-old Feliciano Lopez is in both the Singles and doubles finals of the Queen’s Club event.
Federer defeated Frenchman Pierre-Hugues Herbert 6-3, 6-3 to make the final. The 20-time major champion will be attempting to win his 10th Noventi Open title when he takes on David Goffin on Sunday in Germany.
Belgian’s Goffin beat Matteo Berrettini 7-6(4), 6-3, ending the Italian’s 8 match winning streak.
“I thought it was a very solid performance from me,” Federer said after the match. “I didn’t struggle on serve and, I had my opportunities on the return, I was able to take them.”
Over in London, Felciano Lopez had to win three matches on Saturday to advance to both the singles and doubles finals of Queen’s Club.
The Spaniard rallied past Canadian teen Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-7(3), 6-3, 6-4 in singles, while in doubles he and partner Andy Murray won two matches.
The wild card Lopez who won the tournament two years ago will be playing another veteran in the singles final – Gilles Simon. Simon beat fourth seed Daniil Medvedev 6-7(4), 6-4, 6-3.
“To be here again in the finals in both singles and doubles, it’s tough to believe, no?,” said Lopez.
“I feel I made a huge effort. After the French Open, I still believe that I can do well in the grass. I went to Surbiton and I want to Stuttgart to play the quallies, and I lost with two match points. I was pretty disappointed when I finish that match against Lucas Pouille.
“But I thought that somehow things are going to go well on the grass, and this week has been fantastic from the very beginning. I was a little bit lucky that Delpo, unfortunately he was injured and we couldn’t play that match, but you always need a little bit of luck, no, in order to perform that well.”
“It’s been really special. I mean, I’m in the finals here, 37 years old. What else can I say? I play with Andy for the first time. He’s come back in the UK and we are in the finals, also.”
“I’m so happy that my body was still competitive and I was physically strong enough to play against Felix, and then to come back immediately after the singles to play the doubles with Andy.”
