Federer and Nishikori Reach Gerry Weber Semis

June 19, 2015 | By New York Tennis Magazine Staff
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Photo credit: Kenneth B. Goldberg

Top-seed Roger Federer reached the Gerry Weber Open semifinals on Friday, beating Germany’s Florian Mayer 6-0, 7-6(1). Federer needed just 19 minutes to get through the opening set, breaking Mayer times.

“I was too nervous in the beginning,” Mayer admitted. “You look over and you see him there radiating confidence. He gave me no chance.”

Mayer would find his rhythm in the second set, but it wasn’t enough as Federer edged him in a tiebreaker to reach the final four in straight sets.

“It was a superb start,” said Federer. “He was able to recover well and it got close. Luckily I was able to play a perfect tiebreak.”

It is the 11th straight time that Federer has reached the semifinals of this tournament. He will meet eighth-seed Ivo Karlovic, who fired 45 aces to upset third-seed Tomas Berdych 7-5, 6-7(8), 6-3.

The 45 aces is the most in a best-of-three set match all-time on the ATP World Tour.

“I just knew there was a lot of aces, but I didn’t know it was that many,” said Karlovic. “The record will always be there, it will always be written. I’m extremely happy.”

“He’s the best on grass so it will be really difficult,” he added about playing Federer. “But if I serve like today I will have a chance.”

Second-seed Kei Nishikori hung on to beat Jerzy Janowicz 6-4, 5-7, 6-3 to book his spot in the other semifinal. He will meet Italian Andreas Seppi, who led 6-1, 1-0 over fourth-seed Gael Monfils before the Frenchman was forced to retire. 


New York Tennis Magazine Staff
Centercourt
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