Alexander Zverev's stadium introduction as the "shooting star of German tennis" couldn't have been more apt as he revelled in the highlight of his soaring career.
The 19-year-old had hailed reigning champion Roger Federer as the “king on grass” ahead of their Halle semi-final, but Zverev stormed to a maiden top 10 victory in an enthralling two hour battle.
“I feel pretty good. I played very good, served well once again. So, I think that helped me a little bit and I played well in the important moments,” stated the world No.38. “It’s unbelievable to get a win against Roger, especially on grass. Semi-finals was a bit like a dream but it is madness that I’m now in the final.”
In doing so, Zverev became the first teenager to inflict defeat on Federer since Andy Murray prevailed at Cincinnati in 2006.
Striking 39 winners past the world No.3, Zverev was aggressive from the outset and only dropped four points on serve in the whole first set.
An exemplary tie-break saw the composed German claim a full-throttle opener 7-6(4).
Federer kept pace with his laser like serve whilst Zverev was also catapulting ferocious forehands cross court to great effect, a shot he claimed was a “huge factor” in the result. The top seed staved off two break points at 4-4 with consecutive aces before the 19-year-old tormented Federer by fending off a trio of break points.
“He played a really, really good game at 5 all. I didn’t really make any mistakes or anything like that. He just played good. So, I just knew I had to stay with him in the third set, you know he had a lot of break chances where I played good,” reflected Zverev after the Swiss utilised the drop shot and a crushing forehand winner to suddenly steal a 7-5 second set.
Federer bemoaned his missed opportunities but lauded the performance of the home sensation.
“I mean it’s a grass court match, where if you miss your chances you pay the price. I felt it was another match like that because I didn’t play that well in the first set, I didn’t make many returns, I didn’t feel comfortable off the baseline at all. I actually started to improve. So, it would have been nice to win the breaker. So, in hindsight that was the key to the match because after that I couldn’t afford any more let-downs and I almost didn’t,” analysed the eight-time Halle champion.
“I missed too many chances, maybe they hit the line and I missed the timing but still I should make those shots, I should make him feel more uncomfortable but I wasn’t able to do that.
I thought he handled the baseline rallies very well and then obviously he always goes in spells to serve well, return well and that’s why, I believe, he’s going to be a good player.”
Having brutally dismissed Federer’s early third set chances, Zverev secured the pivotal break for 4-2 by asserting his dominance in the punishing, lung-bursting exchanges and never let up until his arms were aloft as the winner.
Watch #Zverev lob the master #Federer with aplomb! https://t.co/kRsZ9udpkC https://t.co/GNOU6pMvb8
— TennisTV (@TennisTV) June 18, 2016
Despite the significance of the 7-6(4), 5-7, 6-3 victory, the youngster’s celebration was fairly muted.
“Of course, respect a big factor. I mean, if you win against Roger, that does not happen every day, so you need to respect him and I just think that that was the right thing to do.”
Back on clay in Rome, Federer had swept aside Zverev 6-3, 7-5 but noticed a radical improvement on the Halle turf.
“I was certainly impressed this time, which in Rome was perhaps not quite the case,” said Federer. “He played better and deserved to win. He has played wonderfully well in the tiebreak.
Heading off to prepare for his title tilt at Wimbledon, the seven-time SW19 champion is satisfied with his grass court campaign this far.
“If I had known three weeks ago that I now seven matches to play here in ten days, I would have said, ‘wow, that would be a dream scenario.’”
It really was a day for the underdog as Florian Mayer set up an all-German final.
The 32-year-old reached the biggest final of his career by halting the phenomenal rise of world No.7 Dominic Thiem.
The Austrian has caught the eye in recent months and even shocked himself by claiming the Stuttgart title on grass earlier this week.
However it was Mayer, a two-time Wimbledon quarter-finalist, who put in an inspired showing to bag a first ATP final since 2011.
“It’s incredible. And here in Germany on grass at home. Yes, a great feeling for me of course also in the ‘late autumn’ of my career. So I am very happy," he said.
Thiem admitted he was lethargic on the court having played pretty much consistently since February, whilst Mayer canvassed the net superbly, sensing his opponent was weary.
“I thought, he must also sometimes be a bit tired and you think I saw today. He was not at his best. This does not detract from my performance but I think I was the right time at the right place today.”
Mayer finished with 18 out of 24 success rate at the net, rushing Thiem during the 6-3, 6-4 triumph, “I was not moving that well, the strokes were not that powerful, also he’s playing really uncomfortable on grass, comes in a lot and plays really good volleys, has an unbelievable touch. I didn’t find a solution for him today,” acknowledged the third seed.
The world No.192 now takes on countryman Zverev in Sunday’s showpiece and is content at being the underdog.
“I think it’s going to be a very tough match. He’s a young upcoming German player. He will be top ten for sure in the future,” said Mayer. “I think he will be a little bit the favourite. Maybe the pressure is a little bit more on his side to win his first title. We will see, I will give my best.
Meanwhile Thiem is relieved to now have a short rest before preparing for Wimbledon next week, but he is not expecting to replicate his recent semi-final showing on the clay at Roland Garros.
“It’s been an amazing preparation for me. Last week and this week 430 points more than I expected. So, I’m very happy with these two weeks,” added the Stuttgart champion.
"Sure, my expectations [for Wimbledon] have risen but on grass it's not like I'll be in the tournament as long as I was Paris. My main goal is simply to go further than last year. So, I certainly wouldn't be unhappy with a third round."
