World number one Roger Federer won his fifth title at the 713,000-euro Halle ATP tournament here on Sunday, beating Germany's Philipp Kohlschreiber in straight sets.
Federer picked up his 59th consecutive win on grass seeing off Kohlschreiber 6-3, 6-4 in the traditional grasscourt warm-up for Wimbledon later this month, where he will bid to win a sixth consecutive title.
The top seed from Switzerland has won here every year since 2003, apart from last year when he did not compete. "All week I didn't lose my serve once which has never happened to me before," said the 26-year-old who lost neither a serve nor set all week.
The win also came as a welcome relief after Federer's humiliation at the hands of Rafael Nadal in the French Open final last weekend. Though the 74 minutes match was Federer's longest of the week, Kohlschreiber was powerless to stop him.
He gave the German few chances and Kohlschreiber could only perform his best tennis in a few limited rallies. But after his Roland Garros disappointment seven days before, Federer admitted he had considered taking a break before Wimbledon and skipping Halle.
"I admit I did struggle before deciding to come here, however I am glad I came," he said. "It wouldn't have been good for me either not to come here at all or to come here and lose here in the first or second round.
"But this week was great for me and I feel fine - especially after only two hours of preparation to change from clay to grass.
"It helped my Wimbledon preparation to come here - I felt under pressure earlier on this week, it is only my second title this year, though I have been in a couple of finals." His beaten opponent Kohlschreiber was pleased with his performance against the world number one.
"I was very happy to be in the final and I had a good start, but Roger can play unbelievable shots and he is always very balanced," said the German.
"He can read his opponents very well and he doesn't give out many chances. "It has been a good week for me - I will go to England on Friday and then in Wimbledon the game will start from zero again."
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