Federer captures 55th title

HALLE (Germany): Roger Federer kept alive his grass-winning streak and captured his 55th title on Sunday with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Philipp Kohlschreiber at the Gerry Weber Open.

Federer, who sailed through the Wimbledon warm-up without a dropped set, ran his record unbeaten run on grass to 59 matches.

The 40th-ranked German netted a backhand after a long rally to end the match.

“I never lost my serve in this tournament, that had never happened to me,” Federer said. “That was very special.”

The top-ranked Swiss restored some confidence after one of his worst defeats — a rout in the French Open final at the hands of rival Rafael Nadal. He took just four games.

Federer, who raised his record to 10-0 in grass finals, won Halle for the fifth time. The previous four were followed by Wimbledon triumphs three weeks later.

Federer didn’t face a top 10 player, but had an easier time than his last appearance at the event in 2006. He was pushed to three sets in four of his five matches that year.

Federer won Halle for the first time in 2003 — before going on to win his first Wimbledon title — and now has won 24 straight at the tournament, a streak dating back to that year.