ATP: Roger Federer warms up in Stuttgart

Roger Federer will serve again next week at the ATP World Tour 250 tournament in Stuttgart. On Sunday the 20 times major winner has already trained.

The tennis circus doesn’t have a break. The transitions of the tournaments are smooth. Best example: This Sunday. While Rafael Nadal celebrated his 11th triumph in Roland Garros on the ashes of Paris this afternoon, 600 kilometres east of his eternal rival Roger Federer returned to the tennis stage to ring in the grass court season on the lush green in Stuttgart.

At 5 p.m. local time the shuttle with the MercedesCup tournament director Edwin Weindorfer and the Swiss superstar on board drove up on the grounds of the Tennis Club Weissenhof. Several fans had already picked up the trail and received her idol with applause, autographs and selfie wishes.

Several hundred spectators attended the first training session of the “Swiss-Maestro” at the Center Court to officially declare Federer’s voluntary, approximately 80-day time-out from the tour as over.

Initially accompanied by drizzle, the eight-time Wimbledon winner in the traditional Nike outfit took part in his first training session together with Philipp Kohlschreiber. Baseline, volleys and serves were part of the canter, enough to get a first “feeling” for the lawn. There was also time for a two-handed backhand or a joke or two. When the sun finally returned to the Swabian metropolis it was also about points.

“Not only does the lawn look good, it is also very playable,” is Federer’s expert conclusion after the almost one-hour practice session. He also commented briefly on his off-court activities in recent weeks. “My wife turned 40 and we had a great time with the family,” said Federer, who also travelled for his foundation.

Next Wednesday, Federer will intervene in the tournament events of the ATP 250 tournament, which is endowed with 729,340 Euro. After a walk-through in the first round, the 36-year-old Swiss will start with either Russian qualifier Mikhail Youzhny or Mischa Zverev. Federer and the German serve and volley specialist have already met five times, always with the better end for the former world number one.

These statistics also include three matches on grass. Zverev, who also followed Federer’s first practice session from the stands, could not win a single set – and yet, after Federer’s tournament break, there could be a first real test against the left-hander.

“My name is not on the tableau here. So he won’t be eliminated after his opening match,” Tommy Haas joked in allusion to his triumph against Federer in Stuttgart last year. The former world runner-up from Germany and French defending champion Lucas Pouille were the lucky fairies in the draw for the main draw in the city centre on Saturday afternoon.

“The first match after a long break is never easy, but Roger will come to Stuttgart perfectly prepared and highly motivated,” said Haas.

In the first round of the Mercedes Cup there will also be two purely German duels.

“Struff versus Molleker is at least for me the most interesting match in the first round,” Haas explained, adding: “The winner will face my protégé. That’s why I’m sure I’ll watch this match. Struff had already played here against Pouille last year and even had a match point. So it’s not going to be an easy task for Lucas.”

Florian Mayer will deal with Yannick Maden on Monday. However, a third German-German duel had to be cancelled, as Peter Gojowczyk will not be able to play Maximilian Marterer in his first round match. Gojowczyk had to withdraw from the tournament due to a hip injury. He is replaced by the Croatian Lucky Loser Viktor Galovic.