Halle Open: Roger Federer beats Benoit Paire after saving two match points

The nine-time Halle Open champion, who recently climbed up to the top ranking for the sixth time in his career, will have to defend the Halle title if he wants to retain the top position.

"He has home support, things can go in a good direction if he plays well at Wimbledon".

Federer returned to action in Stuttgart where he only needed to reach the final to reclaim the top spot by 25 points.

"It was always going to be tight".

"Fortunately, I changed then, so I could become really successful".

Federer took the set and was straight onto the front foot in the second, but he squandered a couple of early break points and Paire made a gain of his own in a dominant next game.

The victory in just under two hours left Federer with a flawless 6-0 record over Paire, who angrily slashed his racket across the grass in moments of desperation, drawing jeers from the crowd.

"With Federer I have a fantastic relationship, but I would not say I'm his friend". In the second I was able to hold all of my serves.

Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal may be having vast respect for each other, but the two of the greatest tennis players of all time are apparently not the best of the friends.

Referring to his preparations in Calvia, a municipality on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca, Nadal said that "all has gone well and I would like to thank the Mallorca Open organisers for allowing me to train here".

He will begin the defence of his Wimbledon title on 2 July. "But it was not a bad match for me".

Novak Djokovic may have won Wimbledon three times, but the former world number one insists he isn't one of the favourites to land the All England Club crown this year.

Zverev, the third seed, had lost the last two finals here, going down to Federer a year ago and exiting at the hands of compatriot Florian Meyer in 2016.

The Australian needed just over 90 minutes to beat Kohlschreiber, the 2011 title victor in Halle.

Kohlschreiber is usually strong in his homeland where he is 121-64 with five of his eight ATP titles coming in Germany.

Also Thursday, Borna Coric defeated Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-4, 6-2.