Roger Federer has achieved more career milestones than most tennis players, but there are a few records that elude him. On Sunday, he ticked off one more in that list by winning 10 titles at a single tournament for the first time in his career as he lifted the trophy at Halle. Fittingly, this record came on a grass court.
In doing so, he became only the second man after Rafael Nadal to win 10 titles or more on at one event in the Open Era. He has triumphed eight times at both Wimbledon and the Dubai Open, and has won his home tournament in Basel on nine occasions.
Federer, 37, beat David Goffin 7-6 (7/2), 6-1 to secure his 102nd career singles title and remain unbeaten on grass so far this season. He had reached the final of the tournament in Germany last year as well, but his bid for the tenth crown then was foiled by Borna Coric.
With this trophy, he also became the first ATP player to win three titles in 2019. He was also the first to win two this year after a record start of a different champion at the first 19 tournaments.
“It’s unbelievable. I never thought when I first played here that I would win 10 titles,” said Federer.
“I’ve never won a tournament 10 times before, so I will remember forever that I did so here in Halle.”
Here’s a look at some of the big numbers from Federer’s ‘Decima’:
Roger Federer becomes the oldest player to win a tour-level title since 43yo Ken Rosewall did so in Hong Kong 1977.
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) June 23, 2019
It’s 10 Halle titles for @rogerfederer 🏆
— ATP Tour (@ATP_Tour) June 23, 2019
🎥 @TennisTV | #NoventiOpen19 pic.twitter.com/KIiG4dvVrS
The perfect TEN
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 23, 2019
🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆@rogerfederer #NoventiOpen pic.twitter.com/ou35OwWQR0
2003 🏆
— Tennis Channel (@TennisChannel) June 23, 2019
2004 🏆
2005 🏆
2006 🏆
2008 🏆
2013 🏆
2014 🏆
2015 🏆
2017 🏆
2019 🏆@RogerFederer joins @RafaelNadal as the only player in the Open Era to win a single tournament 10 times.#NoventiOpen19 pic.twitter.com/BjTR7azpjB
Roger Federer - Most Titles by Tournament (all are tournament records)
— ATP Media Info (@ATPMediaInfo) June 23, 2019
• Halle 10
• Basel 9
• Wimbledon 8
• Dubai 8
• Cincinnati 7
Men's singles titles:
— Gaspar Ribeiro Lança (@gasparlanca) June 23, 2019
109 - Jimmy Connors
102 - Roger Federer
94 - Ivan Lendl
82 - Rafael Nadal
77 - John McEnroe
74 - Novak Djokovic, Rod Laver
64 - Pete Sampras, Bjorn Borg
62 - Guillermo Villas
Grass-court tournament titles 🏆
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) June 23, 2019
Federer – 19
Tilden – 10
Sampras – 10
Connors – 9
McEnroe – 8
Murray – 8
Hewitt – 8
Rosewall – 8
Perry – 7
Borg – 7@rogerfederer stretches his lead….#NoventiOpen pic.twitter.com/m5chyHslxb
#102
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) June 23, 2019
37yo Roger Federer beats David Goffin 7-6(2), 6-1 to win the title in Halle.
10th Halle title
102nd career title (7 away from Connors)
First player to win 3 titles in 2019. pic.twitter.com/Z8wBSoEGnt
Roger Federer def. David Goffin 7/6 6/1 to claim his 102nd career title and 10th at @ATPHalle 📷 Joins Rafa Nadal as the only players in the Open Era to reach double-digit titles at a single tournament.
— Michal Samulski (@MichalSamulski) June 23, 2019
Nadal - Roland Garros (12), Monte-Carlo & Barcelona (11)
Federer - Halle (10) pic.twitter.com/xLCiBwR3HO
Starting with his first title run in 2003, Federer played 42 tiebreaks at Halle.
— Oleg S. (@AnnaK_4ever) June 23, 2019
He was 10-11 in first 21 ones.
He's 19-2 in last 21 ones.
Roger Federer will be the 2nd seed at #Wimbledon, by their own formula.
— José Morgado (@josemorgado) June 23, 2019
With AFP inputs