Federer looking to reignite comeback at Halle

Swiss maestro Roger Federer, whose return to the tennis court after a two-month layoff was cut short by Tommy Haas at the Stuttgart Open, is now aiming at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle to reignite his comeback and get into the groove before the Wimbledon gets underway on July 3.

Federer has won the Gerry Weber Open eight times, more than any other event and would be looking for a little confidence pick-up in his comeback.

"The history I have here, having come and played well so often, definitely should help me to play good tennis this week," Federer was quoted as saying by ATP website on Sunday.

"I love playing here. Yes, I think I can come in here with good confidence."

Federer, who was stunned 2-6 7-6(8) 6-4 by 302nd ranked German Haas, faces Taiwan's Lu Yen-Hsun in his opening game in Halle.

The 35-year-old will be a heavy favourite against Lu, but after his surprise defeat to Haas in Stuttgart, he won't take the match lightly.

"It's important for me, especially after the Stuttgart week, to come here and make sure I win my first-round match and get going. I want to take the right decisions on the tennis court. I don't want to question myself too much," said Federer.

"I'll have the right focus and mindset, that point-by-point mentality. That was a little bit off in Stuttgart, understandably so. I have to learn from that week and move forward in a better way," he added.

Speaking about his loss at the Stuttgart Open, the 18-time Grand Slam champion said, ""It could have been better in Stuttgart, but then again I had match point. It wasn't like I lost 6-2, 6-2 and everything was terrible. A comeback is never simple, especially on grass where margins are so slim."

"It's a serve or a passing shot or a return that determines the outcome of the match. That's what it ended up being against Tommy, even though I felt I should have found a way home, having been a set and a break up," he added.

The Swiss maestro also has no regrets about missing the French Open to focus on Wimbledon but said it was a move he was unlikely to repeat.

"Considering how well I felt going into Paris, it was surprisingly easy to take the decision and after making it I never had any regrets watching it or following the results. I never thought 'If only I was part of the tournament.' I was looking ahead to the grass season and enjoyed the time with my friends and family at home," he said.

"It was a decision that was taken within a couple of days. It wasn't something I saw myself doing weeks and months ahead of the tournament. For a long time the schedule was to play Paris but all of a sudden I just felt that I wouldn't be comfortable doing it. I didn't want to compromise the goal of the grass-court season, Wimbledon, the US Open and beyond."

"But it's not a trend that I might follow in the future. I don't know what the future holds. This was just a one-off decision,' he added.

-ANI