Reuters
Halle, June 18: Roger Federer’s bid to win a ninth Halle Open title was ended in the semifinal here Saturday by teenage German Alexander Zverev, who defeated the 17-time Grand Slam champion 6-7 (4-7),
7-5, 3-6.
Reigning champion Federer, on the comeback trail after back problems, was looking to reach the final of his traditional pre-Wimbledon tune-up in Germany for an unprecedented 11th time, but found the big-serving 19-year-old home favourite too formidable.
The Swiss World No. 3 had not lost to a teenager for nearly 10 years since the young Andy Murray beat him in Cincinnati in 2006, which gives an indication of Zverev’s considerable potential.
World No. 38 Zverev, who had lost to Federer in their only previous meeting in May, dropped just four points on serve in the 39-minute opening set, blasting 14 winners as he took the tie-break 7-4.
Federer earned a break of serve at 5-5 with a beautiful drop shot in the second set to restore parity but Zverev, the son of a former Russian player with the same name, responded strongly to dethrone the reigning Halle champion.
The German will now meet countrymate Florian Mayer who ended Domin Thiem’s winning streak of 14 matches. Mayer won 6-3, 6-4 against the Austrian who looked exhausted right from the start.
Murray advances
Top seed Andy Murray also had a tough time against Marin Cilic of Croatia, but finally scraped through after a 122-minute battle to enter the final of the Queen’s Club tournament in London. Playing in front of his home crowd Murray’s game swung between brilliance and ordinary as he won 6-3, 4-6, 6-3. He will meet Milos Raonic, a 6-4, 6-4 winner over Bernard Tomic in the other semifinal.
