HALLE, June 22, 2018
Roger Federer continued his winning streak on grass, earning his 19th consecutive victory on this surface on Friday afternoon. The defending champion of the Gerry Weber Open edged past Matthew Ebden from Australia 7-6(2), 7-5 to reach the semi-finals of the ATP 500 event in Halle.
Federer won 83 per cent of his first service points and 56 per cent of the total points played to prevail after one hour and 28 minutes.
Another gem on the 🌱@rogerfederer wins his 19th consecutive grass-court match, defeating Matthew Ebden 7-6(2) 7-5 to reach semi-final at Halle. #GerryWeberOpen pic.twitter.com/srPGuqsEj9
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) 22. Juni 2018
“It was hard work, because Matthew played really well. I had to fight hard to find my rhythm and I didn’t get into the match well. I am very happy though, that I played a good tie-break. In the second set it was a bit up and down and that was highly frustrating. You have to react good and in the end I managed that well,” Federer explained.
The 36-year-old from Switzerland will next take on US-American qualifier Denis Kudla, who beat Yuichi Sugita of Japan 6-2, 7-5. Kudla has not dropped a set through five matches this week. Federer beat the 25-year-old in their only head-to-head clash at the 2012 BNP Paribas Open in straight sets.
Bautista Agut to face Coric
In the bottom half of the draw, Roberto Bautista Agut fought past Karen Khachanov of Russia 6-3, 6-7(3), 6-3. The No. 4 seed from Spain saved eight of the nine break points he faced, converting three of his own to seal victory in two hours and 11 minutes.
“I knew he is able to serve well, it was a tight match,” Bautista Agut said after reaching the stage of the final four in Halle for the first time.
The World No. 16 will next play #NextGenATP Croatian Borna Coric, who beat Andreas Seppi of Italy 7-5, 6-3. The 21-year-old Zagreb native dominated the encounter without facing a break ball. Coric advanced in one hour and 24 minutes.
Halle – an international event
Ahead of the final weekend, organizers of the Gerry Weber Open announced that more than 110,000 fans will have attended the biggest tennis tournament in Germany at the end of the week.
“The final days are more or less sold out. Fans from different continents come to Halle. It has become a must-attend event,” tournament director Ralf Weber is pleased.
About 5,000 day tickets were sold to spectators from foreign countries, most of them come from Europe but fans from Egypt, Argentina, Australia or the United States also travelled to Westphalia.
