Roger Federer, Roger Federer on French Open
Tennis - Match for Africa 3 - Federer v Murray - Zurich, Switzerland - 10/04/2017 - Switzerland's Roger Federer reacts during the Match for Africa 3 benefit tennis match against Andy Murray of Britain. Reuters / Arnd Wiegmann

Top seed Roger Federer will square off No. 4 seed Alexander Zverev Sunday in the final of Gerry Weber Open in Halle. Federer is looking to win the ATP World Tour 500 series grass-court event for the ninth time in his illustrious career.

En route his seven previous Wimbledon championships, Federer used the event in Galle to prepare for his favourite Grand Slam event. This year would be no different. According to odds makers, the 35-year-old Federer enters the 2017 Wimbledon as the favourite, closely followed reigning champion Andy Murray, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.

Federer and Zverev, touted by many as a future superstar, are currently 1-1 in head-to-head matches. While Federer their initial meeting last year in the Rome Masters, Zverev returned the faovur a month later with a three-set victory in the Halle semi-finals. It remains Federer's only defeat to a #NextGenATP player.

Both players own 3-0 records in championship matches this season. After clinching Grand Slam No. 18 at the Australian Open, Federer won back-to-back ATP World Tour Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami to storm into the World Top-4 after starting the year as World No. 17.

Zverev won the tournaments in Montpellier and Munich before winning his maiden ATP World Tour Masters 1000 title in Rome. Zverev proved too hot to handle for former World No. 1 Novak Djokovic in the final of the Italian Open, re-assuring the tennis world that he was headed for greatness in the coming years.

While Federer enters Sunday's final without dropping a set, Zverev saw off French veteran Richard Gasquet 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in the semi-final. Despite winning in straight sets, Federer acknowledged that Russian youngster Karen Khachanov pushed him to the limits in their semi-final match. “I thought it was extremely close, especially that second set. I’m still just very happy how I was able to close it out in the tie-breaker. t was perhaps not always very beautiful to watch, but it’s good to be in the final in the second tournament after my return," said the Swiss Master, via Fox Sports.

The 20-year-old Zverev realises beating Federer would give him a major confidence booster ahead of the 2017 Wimbledon starting July 3. The German is the youngest player in the World Top-40. “Roger is the best player of all time on grass, it will be a very difficult match,” Zverev said on the eve of the final. Roger Federer vs Alexander Zverev live streaming, Halle Open final live streaming and tennis live streaming info follows.

Roger Federer vs Alexander Zverev live stream: Watch Halle Open final online

Start time: 9 p.m. (AEST), 1 p.m. (Local Time, CEST), 7 a.m. (ET)
On TV: ESPN 2 (Australia), Fox Sports (USA)
Live Stream: Tennis TV (Global), WatchESPN (Australia), Tennis Channel (USA)

RELATED STORIES