Halle Open: Federer one step away from retaining title

Defending champion downs towering Croatian Karlovic in straight sets

HALLE: Roger Federer is through to the final in Halle for the 10th time after beating giant Croatian Ivo Karlovic 7-6 (7/3), 7-6 (7/4), in Saturday’s semi-final.

World number two and top seed Federer needed two tie-breaks to claim a 13th win in 14 meetings with Karlovic.

The Croat, who stands 2.11m tall, had battered down 45 aces in his quarter-final victory against Czech Tomas Berdych on Friday but against Federer he managed a mere 21.

“It is always difficult to play against Ivo but the important thing was that I remained calm,” said Federer. “I was very lucky in the first set and I’m all the more delighted to be in the final again.”

Federer is chasing a 15th title on grass as he warms up for Wimbledon, which begins on June 29.

He beat Nishikori in the semi-finals in Halle a year ago while he has only lost once in 12 previous meetings with Seppi, although that came in the third round of this year’s Australian Open.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 21^st, 2015.

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