Halle having long term deal with Roger Federer is great move, says Stach
In an interview to WestFalen Blatt, the TV commentator Matthias Stach commented on the Roger Federer's lifetime deal with the Halle Open. The Swiss made his 17th appearance in the German event last week. "Having a long term deal was a great move", said Stach. "Roger is not just a promoter, but an ambassador. When he goes from the training courts to the facility, he sometimes signs autographs for a longer time. Even after the matches outside the Central Court. Alexander Zverev wants to have a similar contract as Roger's, that's interesting. Even if Roger will no longer play, this tournament will keep a high record attendance. Players appreciate it. In which tournament you can go from the hotel to the court over five minutes?"
"For me, Halle is as important as the French Open. I think that's a great tournament here, very familiar and distances are short for everyone. The whole scenario has a good mixture, it fits very well to the families. Fans see matches and concerts too."
Stach also praised Rafael Nadal, who played in Halle in 2012 and 2014: "Rafa is a person who takes the bottles out when he finishes training. Rafa is a very sensitive, educated, respectful person. Also Naomi Osaka, who refused help from a volunteer in taking bottles out. Those players are role models."
Meanwhile at Queen's Andy Murray spoke about his doubles win with Feliciano Lopez: "I've spent time with Feli for the last 14 years on the tour and we've got on well with each other, so it was a natural fit. It's difficult to be part of a team when you're so used to playing singles and that is a challenge for me - to be part of a team, to be part of something. Because of how much tennis Feli had been playing this week, with him also winning the singles title at Queen's, you feel like you have to gee him up and keep trying to give him as much energy and help as you can. Also, with Feli and because of how well he serves, when I'm serving he might think 'Oh Andy, come on serve better!' And when I'm returning it'd be easy if he missed a return to think 'Oh you should have made that'. But no tennis player, or doubles partner, has everything and it's about being able to complement each other and work together around your strengths."
from Tennis World USA https://ift.tt/2NfwisM
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