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Federer and Murray confirm favourite status for Wimbledon

Two of the favourites for the men's title at Wimbledon, Roger Federer and Andy Murray, warmed up for the third grand slam event of the season with wins in Germany and England. World number two Federer has taken the trophy away from London SW19 seven times. On Sunday afternoon on the grass courts at the Gerry Weber Open in Halle, he collected his eighth title.

Andy Murray emulated the likes of Boris Becker and John McEnroe with a fourth title at the Queen's Club.
Andy Murray emulated the likes of Boris Becker and John McEnroe with a fourth title at the Queen's Club.
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The 33-year-old Swiss beat the Italian Andreas Seppi 7-6 6-4.

"I think that I did very well in the tie-breaks," said Federer. "I served well which you have to do on the grass. I was able to mix it up, so I created a good pattern going into the tie-break. My opponent wouldn’t quite know where it was going to go. I think I did a really nice job this week in these situations."

He added: "I think one big secret on grass is when to hit which shot and playing the score the right way. You might be playing perfect but then in one moment you take a bad decision and grass makes you pay for it all. I won all the tie-breaks this week, which gives obviously big confidence knowing that in the crucial moments my game was right there."

It was Federer's 86th title and he's eight behind second placed Ivan Lendl in the all-time winners list.

Seppi is way off such heights. He had been seeking his fourth ATP crown and his first since hoisting the trophy in Moscow in 2012.

"It was a fantastic week for me," the 31-year-old said. "I had some chances in the first set with two set points but in the important moments he stepped up his serve."

Kevin Anderson's delivery had been one of the talking points at the Aegon Championships at the Queen's Club in west London. The 29-year-old South African stands at a chatty 2.01 metres tall.

In his semi-final against the Frenchman Gilles Simon on Saturday afternoon, he served 34 aces.

But Murray, who won Wimbledon in 2013 just after collecting his third Queen's Club trophy, is acknowledged as one of the best returners of service in the men's game.

For all of Anderson's firepower, the contest was 6-3 6-4 to the top seed. It was over in 64 minutes well in time for tea at 4.00pm.

Murray said he was pleased to join the likes of Boris Becker, Lleyton Hewitt and John McEnroe and Andy Roddick as four-time winners of the Queen's Club event which dates back to the 1880s.

His 34th career title came at the venue where he claimed his first ATP match win 10 years ago.

"I need to train well the next five, six days, prepare as well as I can," said Murray. "It gives me that little bit extra confidence going into Wimbledon."

The 28-year-old Briton will be the third seed and scheduled to face either Federer or the top seed Novak Djokovic in the semi-finals.

"It's been a really good start to my preparations," Murray added. "But it's a long way to go before Wimbledon even starts and then all sorts of things can happen during slams."

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