The GERRY WEBER OPEN are very well prepared for the future. That is the result of the final press-conference concerning the GERRY WEBER OPEN 2003, with tournament-director Ralf Weber and the two founders of the tournament, Gerhard Weber und Udo Hardieck.

The top-seeded Roger Federer (Switzerland) has come one step closer to winning his first title on grass. With a 4:6, 7:6(4), 6:2-victory against the Russian Mikhail Youzhny he is now through to the final of the 11th Gerry Weber Open.

No 10 of the ATP Champions Race versus No 29. Jiri Novak (Czech Republic) versus the young Russian Mikhail Youzhny. Theoretically, this seemed to be an interesting encounter in the quarter final.

Miracles occur seldom anyway. What is more, miracles that repeat themselves in exactly the same way, are generally regarded to be impossible. However, it seems that Nicolas Kiefer is not aware of that fact: Just like last year he enjoys a comeback at the GERRY WEBER OPEN after a completely screwed-up first half-year.

A David and Goliath-scenario on the lawn: The French Arnaud Clement, who is only 1.73 m tall, kicked the 1.93 m-cannonball-server Ivan Ljubicic (Croatia) out of the tournament. After the 6:4, 6:2-result Clement will meet Karol Kucera (Slovakia) in the quarter final.

No. 1 seed Roger Federer reached the quarter final at the 11th GERRY WEBER OPEN in three sets. The surprisingly good playing Fernando Vicente (Spain) was beaten with 4:6, 6:2, 6:1.

Halftime at the GERRY WEBER OPEN and Ralf Weber, tournament-director, draws a positive balance. 

With an outstanding performance in the second round of the Gerry Weber Open Radek Stepanek (Czech Republic) ousted Rainer Schüttler, who carried the high hopes of the Germans.The Czech was brilliantly serving throughout, which eventually led to his 6:4, 6:7(6), 6:3-success.

Mikhail Youzhny proved that his position among the top players in the GERRY WEBER OPEN was justified. The Swede jonas Björkman lost against the Russian in a tight game with 6:4, 7:5, and is now in the quarter final.

The top seeded player of the GERRY WEBER OPEN, Roger Federer (Switzerland),remains in the tournament. He defeated the Armenian Sargis Sargsian 7:5, 6:1.

The Swede Jonas Björkman wins 6:3, 6:4 against Maximilian Abel (Blau-Weiß Sundern), who entered the tournament with a Wildcard. What sounds so very clear was not in reality.

The young talent from Halle, Christopher Koderisch of the GERRY WEBER Breakpoint Team has accomplished something at his debut in the mainfield of the GWO , nobody else has managed to do before. He lost 0:3 sets, more precisely 1:6, 2:6, 1:6, against No 5 seed Younes El Aynaoui from Morocco. This is so remarkable because matches in Halle consist of only two winning sets.

With excellent returns and a first-class performance, Rainer Schüttler (Blau-Weiß Sundern) delighted about 10,000 spectators in the GERRY WEBER STADION in his first round match. The German number one ousted last year’s semi-finalist Kenneth Carlsen (Denmark) 6:3, 6:4.

All four players who could still make it into the main draw had to show up for the qualifications, but only two were able to beat their opponents on this rainy day.