http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090608/sp_wl_afp/tennisatpsuigerczefederer
Federer ponders Halle presence, Berdych cruises through
HALLE, Germany (AFP) – Roger Federer is pondering whether to bask in the glory of his historic French Open success or begin his grass-court preparations for Wimbledon here at Halle as the organisers hold their breath.
Federer beat Sweden's Robin Soderling in Sunday's final at Roland Garros to win the last of the Grand Slam titles to evade him, but has told the organisers of this week's ATP tournament in Halle he will only decide whether he will come on Tuesday.
The Swiss master is by far the biggest draw-card here as the defending champion has won the tournament five times and only his withdrawal in 2007, from fatigue, broke his winning run since his first triumph in 2003.
Wimbledon begins on June 22 and Federer, who lost to Rafael Nadal in last year's final, traditionally uses the Halle tournament to prepare for the only grass-court Grand Slam tournament.
But former Halle champion Tomas Berdych from the Czech Republic, who beat compatriot Jan Hernych 6-4, 7-5 here in Monday's first round tie, said he had some sympathy for the Swiss star who has now won 14 Grand Slam titles.
"It was fantastic to see Roger finally win at Roland Garros in the final, I was with him all the way and played every shot alongside him," beamed Berdych who won the 2007 title here.
"It was the one title to elude him and this one was special for him, maybe he will need a few days rest.
"It would be nice for the tournament if he came, but that has to be his decision.
"I am not sure I would come if I was in his shoes."
Berdych added he was happy to be back on grass and is just looking forward to his second-round match and not thinking ahead to potentially meeting Federer in the semi-final, should the Swiss star decide to travel.
"You can't afford to look that far ahead, I am just pleased I got a good first win and haven't had to wait around," said the 23-year-old.
In Monday's other matches, local hero Tommy Haas, who took Federer to five sets in the fourth round at Roland Garros, needed less than an hour to power past Austria's Stefan Koubek 6-2, 6-2.
Having qualified here on a wild-card entry former world number two Haas will face either fourth-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga or France's Fabrice Santoro in the second-round.
Sixth-seed Dmitry Tursunov had no problems reaching the second round when he beat compatriot Igor Kunitsyn 7-5, 6-4 while Germany's Benjamin Becker, who also qualified here on a wild card, beat Romania's Victor Hanescu 6-4, 6-4.
And eighth-seeded German Rainer Schuettler needed just 80 minutes to beat France's Marc Gicquel 6-3, 6-4 to reach the second round where he will face Becker.
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