HALLE, Germany — On paper, it was Roger Federer’s least auspicious Wimbledon preparation in years. But on his path to recovery from an injury-plagued start to the season, his semifinal losses at two grass-court events in Germany were marked progress.
After his 7-6 (4), 5-7, 6-3 loss to Alexander Zverev here in the semifinals of the Gerry Weber Open on Saturday, Federer tried to take the positives from his last two weeks of match play, in which he uncharacteristically lost at two Wimbledon tuneup tournaments before reaching the finals.
“Looking back on how I felt three, four weeks ago, this is pretty good, obviously,” Federer said.