By Daily Sports on June 25, 2017
Roger Federer continued his Wimbledon preparations by reaching the Gerry Weber Open final with a hard-fought win over young Russian Karen Khachanov.
The 35-year-old, who is bidding for a record eighth title at Wimbledon next month, won 6-4 7-6 (7-5) in Halle.
Khachanov missed two set points to take the match into a decider, with Federer hanging on before taking the tie-break.
The Swiss top seed will play 20-year-old German Alexander Zverev, who beat Richard Gasquet, in Sunday's final.
Fourth seed Zverev, who beat Federer in the semi-finals last year before losing to Florian Mayer in the final, won 4-6 6-4 6-3 against France's Gasquet.
Eighteen-time Grand Slam winner Federer lost to 39-year-old Tommy Haas at the Stuttgart Open last week, his first match in two months, but is yet to drop a set as he bids for a ninth title at Halle.
However, he was given a stern test by 21-year-old Khachanov in their first meeting.
While Federer is considered one of the greatest grass-court players of all time, 38th-ranked Khachanov was playing in his first tournament on the surface.
*Photo shows Roger Federer.
Source Daily Sports
Posted June 25, 2017
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